Archie Ryan (EF Education-EasyPost) has wasted no time in trying to find his grove on the major climbs of his first Grand Tour, with the Wicklow man going on the attack into Andorra today and taking a top 10.
Though Ryan lacked a little when the big attacks were being fired in the final, on the last climb of the day, he was not caught by the general classification men and has registered his first big day out front in a race of this stature.
Australian Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates XRG) took a very strong solo win after attacking from the breakaway on the final climb, Pal Andorra, up to the finish line; some 9.6km averaging 6.5 per cent.
Ryan was active, and one of the strongest, in the initial attacks in pursuit of Vine, though the Australian quickly opened a big gap.
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With Vine enjoying a lead of about one minute with 8km to go, Pablo Castrillo (Movistar Team) launched the first of several stinging attacks in a bid to split the remains of the breakaway and get a chase going. Initially, Ryan was among the four riders able to respond to Castrillo.
However, when the breakaway men then regrouped a little, and the attacks continued - Castrillo going again several times - Ryan slipped out the back of the group with about 6km to go. He had been in the breakaway at that stage for more than 160km of the 170.km stage 6.
Vine had attacked the 10-man breakaway on the climb of La Comella with 21km to go and by the time he reached the last climb he had his advantage of just under one minute. The remains of the main field was just over four minutes back, though had allowed the breakaway's advantage get to 6:40 before reducing it on La Comella.
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At the finish, Vine took a commanding win as the remains of the breakaway exploded behind him; Torstein Træen (Bahrain-Victorious) best of the rest, in 2nd place at 54 seconds, and taking the race lead for his efforts.
Then came Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana Team) at 1:10, Bruno Armirail (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) at 1:15 and Castrillo rounding out the top five at 1:52. Ireland's Ryan finished in 9th place, at 2:42.
The Irishman was 1:37 ahead of the general classification group, which was down to just 12 riders. It was led home by João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) from Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike).
Ireland's Eddie Dunbar (Team Jayco AlUla) was back in 79th at 19:02. His team leader for general classification, Ben O'Connor, was in the GC group until deep into the final climb, before slipping off the back and losing 28 seconds.
More to come.
⛰ Vine picks up the points, the bonus seconds... and then goes clear in the descent!
? ¡Vine se lleva los puntos, la bonificación... y ataca en el descenso!
⛰ 2️⃣ ???? ?? ?? ???????
1️⃣ ?? Jay Vine - @TeamEmiratesUAE | 5 p. - 6"
2️⃣ ?? Louis Vervaeke -… pic.twitter.com/0CycvPaJ4l— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) August 28, 2025
