“This is not the way to do it” – Horner blasts Lidl-Trek’s Vuelta a Espana tactics

Stage 6 of the 2025 Vuelta a España brought both victory and defeat for UAE Team Emirates – XRG, as despite an impressive solo win for Jay Vine in Andorra, Juan Ayuso dropped out of GC contention. Chris Horner, in his Butterfly Effect podcast, pulled no punches in reviewing the action, calling out “knucklehead” decisions, praising Vine’s control, and warning of the dangers of careless riding in the opening week of a grand tour.

Horner opened by reminding fans of the stage’s history. “Stage six of the last two years of the Vuelta normally has something special for us fans sitting on the Chesterfield,” he said. In 2024, Ben O’Connor took red and a stage win while Primoz Roglic’s Bora team miscalculated, although the Slovenian eventually won the race for a fourth time. In 2023, Sep Kuss rode from a massive 40-man breakaway to victory. “So, let’s see what happens on today’s stage six,” Horner continued, noting the 170-kilometer route, “just under 10 km, but just over 6%” for the final climb, with “10 and 12% sections” in the last kilometers.

From the start, Horner explained that UAE’s Vine was perfectly positioned. “If Jay Vine hadn’t lost that time in stages one, two, three, and four… he could be a real threat on the general classification. But he’s 20 minutes back. So, don’t even worry about him.” Instead, his freedom to attack was clear.

The weather made it even more treacherous. “We get into a ton of rain early when the cameras come on and we see there’s a bit of chaos,” Horner said. Movistar’s car handled a narrow street carefully, but Sep Kuss “did a remarkable job” staying alert. Up front, the ten-man break “were all working well together… rotating through magically.” With six minutes’ lead, Horner declared: “You’re going to see the breakaway start taking the red jersey.”

As the race hit the final two climbs, Vine bided his time. “Jay Vine spent a little bit of time on the front, but not too much,” Horner explained. “Later, we’ll find out there’s a headwind going up this climb. So, Jay Vine wanted to save a little bit of energy.” By the descent, Vine struck. “He lives here in Andorra so he knows this descent really well. You don’t want to let the gap go up to a rider that knows the descent.” The wet roads gave him an edge; his rivals hesitated.

Behind, UAE were split. “We see Almeida is off the back… but Domen Novak did a fantastic job and pulled him all the way back,” Horner noted. “That was crucial because it’s a technical descent.” Meanwhile, Juan Ayuso was “at the back of the peloton” before eventually collapsing entirely: “He’s going to lose over 12 minutes.”

As Vine pulled clear, his advantage hit nearly a minute. “The nine guys behind are racing for a stage victory or possibly the red jersey. So, it’s a chemistry problem… they’re not going as hard as they need to go,” Horner observed. That hesitation sealed their fate.

Torstein Træen was the only rider to emerge in pursuit, and his effort earned him second place and the leader’s jersey. “Fantastic ride to wrap up second place,” Horner said. “He had to battle Bruno Armirail, he had to battle Vervaeke, and of course Fortunato. But he takes red. Fantastic job for Torstein Træen.”

The GC group produced fireworks but no big gaps. Horner highlighted Lidl-Trek’s aggression, “These guys are knuckleheads. If you’re trying to win the general classification, this is not the way to do it. If you’re trying to get a podium, this is a perfect tactic.” Giulio Ciccone’s attack was sharp but easily followed. “Ciccone sprints in the drops with everything he’s got. Jonas Vingegaard is not even out of the saddle. He followed smoothly,” Horner said.

Almeida then steadied things. “The diesel engine is drilling it,” Horner described. “He wraps up everyone else back there. Egan Bernal is there, Gaudu is not. Ben O’Connor is dropped.” Almeida’s pace brought most of the GC favorites together to finish within seconds of each other, limiting losses to Vine’s breakaway.

But the day’s big loser was Ayuso. “Juan Ayuso lost a ton of time today when it’s all said and done,” Horner concluded. “I don’t like tactics of Lidl-Trek. I’ll call knuckleheads again. But Jonas Vingegaard, you looked fantastic. Ciccone, what were you trying to do today? You can’t win the stage.”

For Horner, Stage 6 was another example of how early-week decisions can shape a grand tour. “You don’t need to win on stage six,” he warned. “But you want to be careful and don’t let any knucklehead moves go away like we saw Roglic do, like we saw Remco Evenepoel do on the last two seasons.”

“Jonas Vingegaard, you looked fantastic,” Horner said. “But Stage 7, that’s the real summit finish. That’s where we’ll see who’s really got it.”