Ayuso claims maiden Vuelta stage win after Pyrenees setback

Spain’s Juan Ayuso bounced back from a tough day in the mountains to win stage seven of the Vuelta a España on Friday, Sport360NG reports.

The 22-year-old UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider had lost ground in the overall standings during Thursday’s first major climbing test in the Pyrenees, but responded in style with victory on the 188km route from Andorra la Vella to Cerler, his first individual stage triumph in his home Grand Tour.

“After winning a stage at the Giro, to now do it here at the Vuelta, which is the race I love the most, is incredible,” Ayuso said. “The way I managed to win makes it even more special, something I’ll never forget.”

Italy’s Marco Frigo (Israel-Premier Tech) crossed the line one minute 15 seconds later in second, with Spaniard Raul Garcia Pierna (Arkea-B&B Hotels) taking third.

Norway’s Torstein Traeen (Bahrain Victorious) held on to the leader’s red jersey after finishing alongside Jonas Vingegaard, who climbed to second in the general classification. The Danish two-time Tour de France champion now trails Traeen by two minutes 33 seconds.

Despite his stage success, Ayuso remains well adrift overall, more than seven minutes behind the Norwegian leader. The Spaniard previously finished third in the 2022 edition and fourth last year.

“It wasn’t an easy day,” said Vingegaard. “We wanted to save energy, so we decided not to make any big moves.”

Stage eight on Saturday offers the sprinters an opportunity, with a flat 163.5km course from Monzon Templario to Zaragoza.

Stage Seven – Top 10

Juan Ayuso (Spa/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 4:49:41

Marco Frigo (Ita/Israel-Premier Tech) +1:15

Raul Garcia Pierna (Spa/Arkea-B&B Hotels) +1:21

Harold Tejada (Col/XDS-Astana) +1:28

Sean Quinn (US/EF Education-Easy Post) same time

Kevin Vermaerke (US/Team Picnic-Post NL) same time

Eduardo Sepulveda (Arg/Lotto) same time

Brieuc Rolland (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) +2:17

Marc Soler (Spa/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +2:30

Tom Pidcock (GB/Q36.5 Pro Cycling) +2:35

General Classification – After Stage Seven

Torstein Traeen (Nor/Bahrain Victorious) 25:18:02

Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma–Lease a Bike) +2:33

Joao Almeida (Por/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +2:41

Giulio Ciccone (Ita/Lidl-Trek) +2:42

Lorenzo Fortunato (Ita/XDS-Astana) +2:47

Matteo Jorgenson (US/Visma–Lease a Bike) +2:49

Jai Hindley (Aus/Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) +2:53

Giulio Pellizzari (Ita/Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) same time

Egan Bernal (Col/Ineos Grenadiers) +2:55

Felix Gall (Aut/Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) +2:58