Six months ago, Jay Vine was beating the best road cyclists – virtually – to becomes UCI Esports world champion.
Now he’s beating them handily in real life.
Two days after clinching his first professional win, the Australian surged clear of his rivals on the closing Collau Fancuaya climb on Saturday (27 August) to make it two stage victories on the 2022 Vuelta a España and take a big lead in the King of the Mountains competition.
Vine was part of a 10-man breakaway including overall leader Remco Evenepoel before making his decisive attack with 6km to go.
Marc Soler and Rein Taaramae were 43 seconds behind with Thibaut Pinot a further four seconds behind.
Evenepoel crossed the line in fifth place with an increased lead after Rudy Molard, his nearest challenger overnight, was left in the peloton.
The Belgian’s nearest rival for the red jersey is now Enric Mas at 28 seconds with Primoz Roglic just over a minute behind.
READ MORE: Vuelta a España 2022 preview
Vuelta a España 2022 results: Stage 8 – La Pola de Lavinia to Collau Fancuaya (153.4km) – Saturday 27 August
1. Jay Vine (AUS / Alpecin-Deceuninck), 04h 05′ 25″
2. Marc Soler (ESP / UAE Team Emirates), +43”
3. Rein Taaramäe (EST / Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert)
4. Thibaut Pinot (FRA / Groupama-FDJ), +47”
5. Remco Evenepoel (BEL, Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl), +1’20”
Vuelta a España 2022: General classification standings after Stage 8 – Saturday 27 August
1. Remco Evenepoel (BEL / Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl), 29h 28′ 19″
2. Enric Mas (ESP / Movistar) +28″
3. Primoz Roglic (SLO / Jumbo-Visma) + 1’01”
4. Carlos Rodriguez (ESP / Ineos Grenadiers) +1’47”
5. Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBR / Ineos Grenadiers) +1’54”
Stage-by-stage winners of the 2022 Vuelta a España
- Stage 1: 19 August, Utrecht to Utrecht (team time trial, 23.3km) – Won by Jumbo-Visma, Robert Gesink (Jumbo-Visma) takes overall leader’s red jersey
- Stage 2: 20 August, ‘s-Hertogenbosch to Utrecht (175.1km) – Won by Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe), Mike Teunissen (Jumbo-Visma) takes overall lead
- Stage 3: 21 August, Breda to Breda (193.5km) – Won by Sam Bennett, Edoardo Affini (Jumbo-Visma) takes overall lead
- Rest Day 1: 22 August (transfer day)
- Stage 4: 23 August, Vitoria-Gasteiz to Laguardia (152.5km) – Won by Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), who also takes the overall lead
- Stage 5: 24 August, Irún to Bilbao (187.2km) – Won by Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates). Rudy Molard (Groupama FDJ) takes overall lead.
- Stage 6: 25 August, Bilbao to Ascensión al Pico Jano, San Miguel de Aguayo (181.2km) – Won byJay Vine. Remco Evenepoel takes overall lead
- Stage 7: 26 August, Camargo to Cistierna (190km) – Won by Jesus Herrada. Remco Evenepoel retains overall lead
- Stage 8: 27 August, La Pola Llaviana/Pola de Laviana to Colláu Fancuaya, Yernes y Tameza (153.4km) – Won byJay Vine. Remco Evenepoel retains overall lead
- Stage 9: 28 August, Villaviciosa to Les Praeres, Nava (171.4km)
- Rest Day 2: 29 August
- Stage 10: 30 August, Elche to Alicante (time trial, 30.9km)
- Stage 11: 31 August, ElPozo Alimentación, Alhama de Murcia to Cabo de Gata (191.2km)
- Stage 12: 1 September, Salobreña to Peñas Blancas, Estepona (192.7km)
- Stage 13: 2 September, Ronda to Montilla (168.4km)
- Stage 14: 3 September, Montoro to Sierra de la Pandera (160.3km)
- Stage 15: 4 September, Martos to Sierra Nevada, Alto Hoya de la Mora, Monachil (152.6km)
- Rest Day 3: 5 September
- Stage 16: 6 September, Sanlúcar de Barrameda to Tomares (189.4km)
- Stage 17: 7 September, Aracena to Monasterio de Tentudía (162.3km)
- Stage 18: 8 September, Trujillo to Alto de Piornal (192km)
- Stage 19: 9 September, Talavera de la Reina to Talavera de la Reina (138.3km)
- Stage 20: 10 September, Moralzarzal to Puerto de Navacerrada (181km)
- Stage 21: 11 September, Las Rozas to Madrid, Paisaje de la Luz (96.7km)
Be the first to comment