Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates-XRG): “I made the break to try and win the stage, and there was the option that I could come back and do some work in the bunch. I know these roads pretty well. I’m from just down the hill, Comella is my favourite climb in Andorra. I would have normally liked to do it way harder, but with the headwind it was hard to get the guys to really pull through and make it really hard. I decided to go at the top, and I know the descent very well. I thought: ‘This is my chance to get away and then there’s no funny business, it’s just mano a mano.' It’s pretty incredible. I got the call to do this race about four weeks ago. It was not on my schedule originally. So to be able to win in Andorra, in front of my son, of my wife, it’s unbelievable, and incredibly motivating. The last 5 k, all I could think about is: ‘This is for you Harrison, this is for you.’ And I just got there as quick as possible.
The polka-dot jersey wasn’t the goal for the day but I figured I’d have a go at the top of the first climb, to see who else was interested. A couple of guys were interested, but it wasn’t too much energy to go for the points, and it meant I could take the downhills first and be a bit more safe. To be back in the jersey is nice and we’ll see how long I can take it for! I don’t know how much I’ll be able to defend it. We’re here to win the Vuelta and I want to do that with Joao [Almeida]. He’s in incredible form and we’ve got the team to support him.”
