Sam Bennett retains green jersey as Jay Vine wins first Vuelta mountain stage

In what was the first real mountain stage of this year’s Vuelta a España, Jay Vine (Alpecin-Deceuninck) clocked up the first pro win of his career on Thursday.

The Australian attacked on the Vuelta’s first big summit finish and reached the line 15 seconds clear of one of the big race favourites, Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl), who took over the race lead. Triple Vuelta champion Primož Roglič was one of those who lost ground and is now fourth overall.

Ireland’s Sam Bennett (Bora-hansgrohe) retained the green jersey of points leader on what was a very wet day. Neither he nor main rival Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) added to their points tallies due to the mountainous route.

Bennett stays nine points clear of the former world champion in that contest and with a first category climb located 42 kilometres before Friday’s intermediate sprint and 64 kilometres from the finish, it would take a huge effort for Pedersen to make inroads into that lead.

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The profile for Saturday’s stage eight might bring the intermediate sprint into play but either rider would need to contend with five categorised climbs beforehand, a big ask.

Vine’s success came on what was the first big showdown amongst the general classification contenders. He had deliberately lost time before the stage and was flying under the radar as a result. Ukrainian rider Mark Padun (EF Education-EasyPost) was part of the day’s early break and was out solo heading onto the final climb, but was caught and passed by Vine with just under seven kilometres remaining.

Vine almost won a stage in last year’s Vuelta and focused on that goal this season. “I have been working towards this all year after last year, coming so close. It is a dream come true.”

He reached the professional peloton via an unusual route, earning his initial contract with the then Alpecin-Fenix team by winning the 2020 Zwift Academy. This is a contest based on online racing, using smart trainers and the Zwift virtual world software. He returned briefly to online racing earlier this year to become the UCI’s Esports world champion.

However, his Vuelta success is far bigger than those achievements. “It is almost unreal,” he said. “I missed the break, I got a flat tire in the first five Ks. And even though it was still the team’s plan if it came back together for me to go on the final climb, it was unreal to be able to do that. And to do that from the GC [general classification] group is incredible.

“This is for my wife, who has basically just done everything for me for the last three or four years just to get me to this point. I guess it is time for me to get a Corvette now.”

Evenepoel’s runner-up slot on the stage saw him take the race leader’s red jersey. He is now 21 seconds ahead of overnight leader Rudy Molard (Groupama FDJ), with Enric Mas (Movistar Team) seven seconds further back. Triple Vuelta champion Roglič is one minute, one second behind but, given that he is recovering from injury sustained in the Tour de France, there is the suggestion he can make up the time as his form builds.