One of the main premises when UAE Team Emirates takes the start of a Vuelta a España type race, three weeks aheadis to be a protagonist on all terrains and, if possible, on a daily basis. This is how Joxean Fernández Matxin at every pre-race preview of a race in which they take part. The idea is to shine and to do it every day with different cyclists. and even more so if there's no leader of the power of Tadej Pogačar in the starting eight.
Three weeks after starting the Vuelta in front of the cathedral in Burgos, we can say that the UAE Team Emirates has succeeded in its goal.. The team has been omnipresent in the key days of the race, disputing the victory to the best and culminating with two very unique events: Rafal Majka's stage win in the crossing of the Sierra de Gredos and the top ten, another oneof David de la Cruzin a competition full of faith and desire to go, every day, prospering a little bit.
Rafal Majka's great escape
When UAE Team Emirates signed Rafal Majkait was clear that his first task was going to be to help his big boss in the Tour de France.But the campaign is long and offers other alternatives, apart from the main reason for his acquisition. The Vuelta a España was a good opportunity for the experienced Pole.
Rafal Majka's stage win in this Vuelta was a stage for giants: a very hard terrainThe stage was for giants: a very hard, rough and hot terrain in the Sierra de Avila, at the end of the second week of the race, with a start of those that mark an epoch.
It was not until kilometer ninety that the breakaway took shape. Majka went ahead with Fabio Aruthe winner of the Vuelta six years ago. The two went their separate ways until the Pole soloed to give UAE Team Emirates a stage of the Vuelta. after maintaining a level chase with Tour de France podium finisher Steven Kruijswijk.
David de la Cruz's infinite desire
David de la Cruz's Vuelta a España came at a singular moment for him, after not being taken to the Tour, the Catalan had the option to prepare with care the third major of the year. The top 5 was the goalbut it wasn't easy. The UAE Team Emirates rider suffered time losses in the early stages, due to cuts and falls, and crashes, which pushed him into an area of the general classification that did not do justice to his quality and commitment.
It was not a problem, the Vuelta a España that David de la Cruz was to row and row, always running ahead, looking for the cutand making the most of every option. On the day of El Barraco, for example, he made the cut and went ahead in the first kilometers with the bad luck that his teammate in the adventure, Matteo Trentin, ended up puncturing and dropping out.
The best day David de la Cruz's best day in the Vuelta was the awaited ascent to Gamoniteiru. He attacked with eight to go and kept the chase at bay a peloton that was already fighting for the final places in the Vuelta. He came up just short of winning, the image of Miguel Angel Lopez overtaking him near the top was a reflection of how hard and well David worked in the Vuelta.He finished in seventh place, another top ten for UAE Team Emirates in a grand tour.
That place should be highly valued, just a few days before arriving in Santiago it was a chimera to finish so high, but it was a great achievement. but David's faith propelled him to another great result in the Vuelta.
Dombrowski, Trentin, Rui and Gibbons, among the best
But the balance of the Vuelta would be incomplete if we did not open the spotlight to see the the rest of the UAE Team Emirates team has done. team has done over the past three weeks, as the race has put the jerseys team's riders in very prominent places more than once.
Just like when he won the Giro, Joe Dombrowski approached the second stage as an all-or-nothing race to finish second in the Picón Blanco summitafter a nice one-on-one battle with stage winner Rein Taaramae.
During several days Matteo Trentin also had a chance of success, but he had to deal with monsters like Florian Sénéchal in Villanueva de la Serena. The fact that the Italian took part in a stage did not leave him without helping the team, apart from the cut we mentioned earlier with David de la Cruz, Trentin helped Sebastián Molano in the first arrival to Burgos and appreciated first hand the quality jump of the Portuguese Rui Oliveira.who ended up broken by the defeat against Cort Nielsen in Monforte de Lemos.
The end of UAE Team Emirates in this Vuelta 2021 had a name, that of Ray Gibbonswho came very close to winning the memorable Mos stage, a great day of cycling in which the jersey from Gobik was in frontHe was very far ahead, fulfilling on the road that motto of never conforming and always being ahead.
PhotosBettiniPhoto / Fizza Photo
