Aqua Blue Sport is counting the cost of losing its team bus in the middle of a Grand Tour. But it's proving resilient and has vowed to dig in at the Vuelta. It began yesterday by sending all of its riders off the front in a bid to get in the breakaway on stage 12 (Photo: KarenMEdwards)

Aqua Blue Sport fight back after team bus Vuelta arson

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Irish ProContinental team Aqua Blue Sport has thanked cycling fans for all their support after its bus was destroyed by fire.

It vowed to fight on at La Vuelta and began by sending all its riders off the front yesterday in an effort to make the breakaway.

• Video: Aqua Blue Sport posts video of team bus on fire at Vuelta
• Aqua Blue Sport to fight on after arson attack destroys bus at Vuelta

Peter Koning eventually made the 14-man escape that won the day. He would survive all the way and would take 11th.

The group split on the final climb of the day; Tomasz Marczkysnki (Lotto-Soudal) riding clear solo to take a second stage victory.

And while a win eluded Koning, it was important he was fighting at the front after the team suffering such a serious set-back.

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Press officer at Aqua Blue Sport, Niall O'Connor was a busy man yesterday after the team bus was destroyed in an arson attack (Photo: Karen M Edwards)

“It was a hard day and everyone on the team tried to go in the break,” Peter Koning said after his ride.

“Today I was the lucky one and I tried to go for a good result. But obviously in a big group with a lot of really strong climbers it is really hard.

“I did my best and it was good to be in the break. I'm happy to have tried today but we will keep working for the win.

“I also want to say thank you to the fans for all their well wishes about the bus. We will keep going.”

The team is gathering itself after its bus was torched. It happened outside the team hotel in Almeria in the early hours of yesterday morning.

An arson attack gutted the team bus. It appears to have started with a mattress being placed at the rear of the vehicle and being set alight.