Vingegaard Retakes Vuelta Lead While Israel Premier-tech Delayed By Protesters

Jonas Vingegaard regained nan reddish jersey aft shape 5 of nan Vuelta a España successful a melodramatic squad clip proceedings successful which Israel Premier-Tech were delayed by pro-Palestinian protesters connected nan route.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG won nan shape but Visma-Lease a Bike’s second-placed decorativeness allowed Vingegaard to regain nan lead from Groupama-FDJ’s David Gaudu.

Although squad clip tests are now rather uncommon connected Grand Tours, nan format is making a comeback, pinch nan clip for each squad considered erstwhile nan 4th rider crossed nan statement connected nan 24.1km shape successful Figueres.

Gaudu was level connected clip pinch title favourite Vingegaard aft shape four, but nan Frenchman took nan leader’s reddish jersey connected countback. However, Visma-Lease a Bike turned nan tables connected Wednesday.

Team Emirates-XRG vanished pinch a clip of 25min 26sec, averaging astir 57 km/h, while Visma-Lease a Bike vanished 8sec behind. Groupama-FDJ could only negociate ninth place, 24sec behind.

Israel Premier-Tech’s riders were delayed by protesters during nan stage. Photograph: Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images

Vingegaard now holds an eight-second lead complete nan Team Emirates-XRG trio of Juan Ayuso, João Almeida and Marc Soler. Lidl-Trek’s Giulio Ciccone is 9sec backmost while Gaudu is 16sec down successful nan wide classification.

Israel-Premier Tech were stopped connected nan roadworthy by a group of protesters holding Palestinian flags, pinch half nan squad forced to a complete extremity earlier they group disconnected again.

The protestation costs them respective seconds, pinch nan squad yet finishing 19th, 54sec slower than Team Emirates-XRG.