Ayuso shines to take 4th on the Pico Jano at the Vuelta

An impressive performance by Juan Ayuso at the Vuelta a Espana: in the rain, the nineteen year old Spaniard finished 6th stage in 4th place, 181.2 km from Bilbao on the uphill arrival of the climb to Pico Jano.

Ayuso reached the finish line at 55 “from the winner Jay Vine (Alpecin-Deceuninck), and at 40” off the duo composed of Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) and Enric Mas ( Movistar).
The Spaniard of UAE Team Emirates, having clawed back the Roglic group, escaped with courage from this group at -6.3 km, launching himself and gaining a decent margin between himself and the pursuers, including team mate João Almeida (11th at 1’37 “behind the winner).

UAE Team Emirates will face the 7th stage, Camargo-Cistierna of 190 km and a 1st category GPM 64.5 km from the finish, with two riders in the top 10 of the general classification: Ayuso is 5th at 1 ‘ 12 “from the new Remco Evenepoel red jersey, while Almeida is 10th at 1’54”.

Ivo Oliveira suffered a fall during the stage but only suffered some light abrasions.

Ayuso: “It was a very hard day, especially because of the rain. I knew the last climb, having raced it when I was a junior: I tackled it at my own pace, which allowed me to get back into the Roglic group and, at that point, my pace led me to finish in 4th place .
The first stages disputed here in Spain were challenging, but now I have good feelings and I am happy with the result. Day after day, here at the Vuelta I am always learning something”.

Vuelta a Espana – order of arrival 6th stage
1. Jay Vine (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 4:38:00
2. Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) +15 ”
3. Enric Mas (Movistar) +16 ”
4. Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) +55 “
11. João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) + 1’37 “

Vuelta a Espana – general classification after the 6th stage
1. Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) 20:50:07
2. Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ) + 21 ”
3. Enric Mas (Movistar) +28 ”
5. Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) + 1’12 ”
10. João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) + 1’54 “

The German sprinter Felix Gross took his first top-5 after he arrived at the finish line in Meningen, the arrival point of the 1st stage of the Deutschland Tour.
The youngster for UAE Team Emirates, who this season had to stay out of competition for 3 months due to a broken collarbone suffered during the Paris-Roubaix, took 4th place in the close sprint won by Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) ahead of Jonathan Milan (Bahrain-Victorious).

The sprinter teams led the peloton towards the final in the sprint: Gross fought with determination to find a good position and set up a final kick, coming to recover ground in the final meters and to cross the finish line in 4th place, not too far from the riders who preceded him.

Gross: “We worked well together as a team, it was a good day. I felt good sensations throughout the stage and on the last slight climb I was able to stay with the group. Then my teammates led me in an excellent way in the first part of the peloton , even if in the last 2 kilometers we were a bit all over the place.
Although I felt a hint of cramps in the sprint, I am satisfied with my sprint: it is a good way to get back competitive, after the long injury “.

The 2nd stage will start from Meiningen and will end in Marburg after 200.7 km of jagged course in the final.

Deutschland Tour – 1st stage order of arrival
1. Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) 4:01:54
2. Jonathan Milan (Bahrain-Victorious) s.t.
3. Max Kanter (Movistar Team) s.t.
4. Felix Gross (UAE Team Emirates) s.t.

Deutschland Tour – general classification after the 1st stage
1. Philip Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) 4:04:50
2. Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) +2 ”
3. Jonathan Milan (Bahrain-Victorious) +3 ”
14. Felix Gross (UAE Team Emirates) +8 “