Vine triumphs in the sixth stage of Vuelta, takes overall lead with Traen
In the fourth stage of the Giro Vuelta 2025, Australian cyclist Vine secured a thrilling victory, finishing 54 seconds ahead of Norwegian rider Traen. This stage, spanning 170 kilometers from Olot in Spain's north-east to Pal in Andorra, marked the fourth country to host this edition of the race.
The race had moved to Andorra after the opening stages in Italy and France. The change of scenery did not deter Vine, who is familiar with the roads of the stage due to his residence in Andorra. He celebrated his third career Vuelta stage victory, a testament to his prowess on the challenging terrain.
Meanwhile, Traen's consistent performance earned him the red jersey, a significant milestone in the 21-day race. He finished second in the stage, gaining enough time to take the lead. Traen's victory is all the more impressive given his battle with testicular cancer in 2022, a testament to his resilience and determination.
The UAE Team Emirates, led by Vine, also won the team time trial in this stage, marking a strong start for the team. However, their rider Ayuso finished over seven minutes behind the favourites, a setback for the home team.
The fifth stage of the Vuelta will take place on Friday, a 188-kilometer run from Andorra La Vella to Cerler in the Spanish province of Huesca. As it stands, Traen leads the overall race by 31 seconds from Bruno Armirail, with Visma-Lease a Bike's Vingegaard in fifth place, two-and-a-half minutes behind the leader.
The fifth stage promises to be another gruelling test for the riders, with its mountainous terrain. Part of a breakaway allowed to escape, and while not all riders in the breakaway were willing to work, it remains to be seen who will challenge Traen's lead.
Jonas Vingegaard, who previously held the red jersey, lost it to Traen during the first mountainous stage. The race is far from over, and with the challenging terrain ahead, it promises to be an exciting competition.
