How Victor Campenaerts (unknowingly) played a key role in Marc Soler’s Vuelta stage win

After Almeida's victory on Angliru, UAE Emirates-XRG seemed to want to put Vingegaard under pressure again on Saturday, but the headwind on the final climb ultimately made it difficult. Almeida was only able to accelerate in the last few hundred meters and saw the Dane from Visma | Lease a Bike eventually pass him in the final meters.

“Jonas is very strong and I was happy to be able to keep up with him,” Almeida said afterwards in a brief comment to Eurosport. The Portuguese rider himself gave Soler a free pass to go for the stage victory, which was number 7 (!) in 14 stages for his team.

“Impressive. It wasn't originally the plan to have Marc in the breakaway, but in the end it turned out to be a good idea with the headwind in the final,” Almeida said after the stage. We didn't need him, so there was nothing to lose. We did the best we could and won.”

In the GC, Almeida is now 48 seconds behind Vingegaard. Sunday is usually a transition stage, but in the final week, there are still uphill finishes and a time trial on the program.

“It's an unexpected day, but I'm pleased. I wasn't planning on joining the breakaway. The plan was different, but I followed Victor Campenaerts, who was in the breakaway, and once I was there, I knew how to play my cards,” said the Spaniard.

“I had my doubts about the wind, but anyway, I'm very happy! Incredibly, we've won 50% of the stages of the Vuelta with the team. It's great,” Soler explained.