Ayuso & Almeida in the thick of the action on Vuelta Queen stage

The UAE Team Emirates duo of Juan Ayuso and Joao Almeida teamed up to put in a brave performance on the Queen stage of the Vuelta España from Martos to Sierra Nevada (149.6km) .

Ayuso would finish 7th with Almeida closely behind in 11th spot as Dutchman Thymen Arensman (DSM) took a soler victory from the breakaway which had been animated by Marc Soler who spent much of the stage in a solo escape being reeled in just -6km from the finish line.

Race leader Remco Evenepoel (QuickStep-Alpha Vinyl) would show cracks, losing time to Ayuso and finishing just ahead of Almeida. The Belgian continues to lead the race, with Ayuso up to 4th place overall at 4’49’’ with Almeida just behind in 7th at 7’.

The Emirati team continues to lead the teams classification heading into the final rest day.
Ayuso: “It was a very long climb at nearly 30km and also with altitude. I climbed at my own rhythm – and joined up with Joao, we rode together and thanks to that we were able to finish well-up on the classification today, not at the very front but very close. I’m racing day by day, every day my legs are hurting a little bit more but I’m happy where I am and it’s nice to be so close to the podium.“

Results 15th stage:

1.Thymen Arensman (DSM) 4:17:17
2.Enric Mas (Movistar) +1’23’’
3.Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) +1’25’’
7.Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) +1’55’’
11. Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) +2’10’’

General classification after the 15th stage:

1.Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck-Quickstep) 56h40’49 “
2.Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) + 1’34”
3.Enric Mas (Movistar) + 2’01“
4.Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) +4 ’49 “
7.Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) + 7’00”