"Marc’s versatility is world class" - Joxean Matxin blown away by Marc Soler's tirelessness at this Vuelta

Marc Soler is riding a superb Vuelta a Espana with a stage victory to his name and polka dot jersey on top ahead of the last stage. His UAE Team Emirates bosses are logically pleased with the Spaniards performances. In particular the DS Joxean Matxin.

"Marc’s versatility is world class. We tell him to help a leader. He does it. We tell him to get into a breakaway, he does it. We also tell him to help a teammate in a breakaway, and he does it. We even stop him from a breakaway to help those coming from behind. And, of course, he does it. I always try to get 120% out of the cyclists, but to get it out of them you also have to give 120% to them. He knows perfectly well that I value him," Matxin told AS.

Soler emphasizes that the "vibe" is mutual as he's also more than happy at his current team: "I found my place at UAE. Matxin manages very well when it comes to working, fighting for stages, and I try to take advantage of the small opportunities the team gives me," he said on Tuesday after his victory on the Lagos de Covadonga.

The 30-year-old has been very close to winning on at least three other occasions, finishing third in the same amount of stages. In addition, he was again in the mix for Friday's stage, but the relatively easy profile in last third of the stage didn't allow him to put his main strengths in display and only finished 11th in Maeztu. With six breakaway participations, Soler is a main candidate to bring home the super-combativity prize at the end of the Vuelta.

And to not forget, Soler also leads the mountain classification ahead of the last road stage as he defends 1 point lead over teammate Jay Vine and 20 points over compatriot, the two-time stage winner, Pablo Castrillo (Equipo Kern Pharma).