"All eight of us could get a win this race" - No Pogacar no problem for UAE at La Vuelta 2025 with three stage victories on the spin
Cycling
After Juan Ayuso’s impressive solo victory on the summit finish to Cerler, UAE Team Emirates - XR are riding a wave of momentum at La Vuelta 2025. The team extended their winning streak to three stages in a row — a run that’s turning heads and raising expectations.
Two of Ayuso’s teammates, Marc Soler and Jay Vine, spoke to the media about the team’s efforts, Ayuso’s recovery, and João Almeida’s aggressive moves in the GC group behind.
Building on a Strong Team Run
“We’re in a good vein of form,” said a smiling Marc Soler to the Spanish media post-stage. “We’ve taken three wins in a row now, and Juan has bounced back well after a tough day in Andorra.”
Soler also shed light on his role within the group of favourites on the final climb, where Almeida was active in testing their rivals. “João asked me to pull at the front to see if we could do some damage when the Visma team slowed the chase. João wanted a higher tempo in the group.”
The Catalan rider highlighted the difference in his responsibilities here compared to the Tour de France. “My job at the Tour is different from what I’m doing in the Vuelta, but hopefully, I might get a chance to go for a stage win myself. I’d love for all eight of us to get a win this race.”
Almeida and Ayuso starred for UAE on stage 7
Teamwork and Tactical Depth from the Breakaway
Jay Vine, fresh from his own stage victory the previous day, echoed the satisfaction but also the fatigue after a demanding couple of days in the mountains. “Today was another good day for the team. We put in a lot of work on the roads, and I’m feeling the effects of two really tough days in my legs now — looking forward to some rest,” he said in his post-stage reflections.
Vine explained the crucial role of having two riders in the breakaway, which helped UAE control the race from the front. “It was super important to have two riders up the road. They controlled the first climb really hard. At times, it looked like they might let just one rider go, so I had to force a group to get up there.”
Once established, Vine described the challenge of maintaining the breakaway’s momentum. “When I was there, it was all about keeping the group going and going. Luckily, the green jersey points were at the start of the last climb, so Mads Pedersen was able to help us all the way.”
He emphasised how critical this support was for Ayuso’s final effort. “If it had just been one rider from our team up front, it would have been really difficult to gain the time needed for the last climb.”
Looking Ahead
With the team’s hat-trick of stage wins, spirits are high, but Vine is already focused on the long haul. “A hat-trick is incredible, and I’m really happy with that. Hopefully, tomorrow will be an easier day so we can recover and prepare for the next 10 or 12 stages.”
UAE Team Emirates - XRG are clearly firing on all cylinders — combining tactical intelligence, collective strength, and individual brilliance. With Ayuso and Almeida both showing promising form, and strong contributions from riders like Soler and Vine, the team looks poised to continue shaping the narrative at this year’s Vuelta.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
claps 2visitors 2
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- I see (elsewhere) that Alaphilippe had more to say than what got relayed in this stub. Me: he was very good early but his latter third trajectory was the pits. His old boss did what he could (huffed and puffed) but Julian couldn't get his greatness back. Sometimes I wonder if crashes that didn't look like much changed the course of the rider.flyer14-11-2026
- I wouldn't classify it as a gift because the nasty consequences of taking it from Sepp would have been great and would persist and he knew it.flyer14-11-2026
- Ok. Tratnik's good and Red Bull's better so Tratnik may get what he wants.flyer14-11-2026
- Ok. So just saying he wasn't enjoying racing anymore is some kind of explanation? Me saying I don't enjoy his explanation is more explaining than he did.flyer14-11-2026
- Buitrago, was he their best rider in 2026? He's the chief loss for them and Martinez and Tiberi (especially) have to step up or they will be overtaken by Bahrain's younger riders like Omrzel. I'm still somewhat high on Martinez but Tiberi, after showing signs of promise, has fizzled. Bahrain still has a good team but they need to improve and exceed expectations. I'd be happy if Mohoric could manage to return to his better form for maybe one last year at least.flyer14-11-2026
- Hmmm, "... I just gained 30 seconds purely off the bike. Because it's really a big, big improvement compared to the previous bike". Is that marketing for Specialized or serious valid hype, or something in between? Very likely the former.flyer14-11-2026
- Nothing revelatory or controversial. Why do we have to report on Bruyneel's or Armstrong's thinking. It's a shame and enough that the Move's on TV and that people watch it .flyer14-11-2026
- Makes sense that training from home is a big asset or advantage but it's still remarkable that he can put in three quality majors and not pay some heavy price for the exertion. I wish he would have won that tour stage that his crash while leading allowed Carapaz the win. He's a darn good rider and teammate.flyer14-11-2026
- Sounds like we all agree with the over under exaggeration: "The German’s signing does not guarantee that Evenepoel will win the Tour in 2027. "flyer14-11-2026
- Seixas appears to be that good but if he isn't (an absolute rival to Pogacar) he would have plenty of company in rising stars that did not go on to fully meet the expectations of many. That Pogacar wasn't the greatest (as great) sooner can't be transposed onto another's development. It may be not that simple.flyer14-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment