Almeida attacked Vingegaard but got no help from stage winner Vine: "It wasn’t worth it"

“You never get used to this feeling. Winning is so difficult, and when it happens, it's such an incredible feeling,” cheered the wearer of the polka dot jersey shortly after the finish on the rollers at Eurosport because Vine had to dig deep to even be in contention. “I made my move after 2.5 hours into the race, following the big groups, with help from the guys. After 2.5 hours, I said it wasn't going to happen and that we'd better save our energy for tomorrow.”

And, of course, it happened right after that comment. "Then I was also behind a crash, and we kept jumping for another 45 minutes. I got help and thought we had gotten through the hardest part, but that came on the final climb. I didn't want to take everyone with me, so I played around a bit at the foot of the mountain. I was able to catch up with the leaders and drop Pablo. After that, it was a fight to the finish."

For a long time, it was unclear whether Vine's breakaway would succeed. At the foot of the final climb, the leaders were about three minutes ahead, but UAE Emirates-XRG pushed hard from there. The much-discussed Juan Ayuso rode at the front, followed by Mikkel Bjerg. “I told the guys that we would try if I felt good on the final climb, and we gave it everything we had. Then it is what it is,” concluded João Almeida after the race.

The Portuguese team leader tried twice after his teammates had been caught up. However, he was unable to drop his rivals. “It was good, I felt good. We had nothing to lose because we are here to win. So we have to try for the win, not to lose.” The team leader understood why UAE chose to let Vine win and not drop back for Almeida. “It wasn't worth it."

There will be plenty of other opportunities to make a difference. “I tried to make the race tough, but it wasn't steep enough for big differences, so I took the wheel and made it to the finish,” said Almeida. Vine's victory was UAE's fourth stage win in this Vuelta. After the team time trial on day 5 and Vine's first stage win on day 6, Ayuso also won a mountain stage on day 7.