"We're here to try to win the general classification" - Almeida tests but fails to break Vingegaard in the Pyrenees

The Vuelta a Espana had another mountain stage this Tuesday and although chances were not high, João Almeida tested Jonas Vingegaard post-rest day. The UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider was not able to crack the Dane, but saw Juan Ayuso work for him and had teammate Jay Vine bring another motivation-inducing triumph to the team.

The UAE team began its second week with the focus more off the road than on due to its announcement of Juan Ayuso's departure in the rest day, and his harsh words back at the team management this morning. However he had made it clear he would remain in the race and look to help Almeida, perhaps this desire is what triggered the team's attack on the climb to Larra Belagua, because on paper the speeds would be very high on the climb and making the difference for anyone but Vingegaard would be hard.

Almeida attacked twice and did some damage, but didn't have the legs to drop the Dane. With this clearly understood, the group paced all the way to the finish whilst Vine took the win.

Almeida didn't gain positions in the overall classification but maintained his gap behind Jonas Vingegaard whilst gaining time on Felix Gall and until-then race leader Torstein Traeen.

About the help of Juan Ayuso, after the stage Almeida said the following: "The guys pulled on the last climb. We gave everything we had. That's all there is to it. We tried to make the race hard, but there was not so much hardness in the climb to generate differences", he began pointing out.

"I was feeling good on the climb. Right now we have nothing to lose. We're here to try to win the general classification. We can either not lose or try to win, but what is clear is that we have to try. Tomorrow will be another day," concluded Joao Almeida.