Ayuso podiums on Vuelta climb to Xorret de Catí

Juan Ayuso finished 3rd on a hilly stage 8 of the Vuelta España from Denia to Xorret de Catí. Costa Blanca Interior (165km).

Ayuso was best of the flying UAE Team Emirates trio including Marc Soler & Joao Almeida who formed part of the elite reduced group which arrived to the line with Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) taking the win. Ayuso was hot on the wheels and lost no time as the you Spaniard continues to climb the GC, now sitting in 10th at 2’59”.

Ayuso: “It was a really hard stage. The legs weren’t feeling great during the middle of the day but the team rallied around me and did a great job. Roglic is one of the best in the world in these kinds of finishes and Remco is quick too, so to be with them and not lose time is a good result.”

Soler now moves into 2nd on GC at just 43″ behind new race leader Sepp Kuss (Jumbo Visma).

Stage 9 tomorrow takes the riders from Cartagena to Collado de la Cruz de Caravaca (184.5km) in another day for the climbers.

Stage 8 results

1.Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) 4:13:52
2.Remco Evenepoel (Soudal – Quickstep)s.t
3.Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) s.t

General classification after stage 8

1.Sepp Kuss ( Jumbo-Visma) 30:51:06
2.Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) +43″
3.Lenny Martinez (Groupama FDJ) + 1′