Australian Jay Vine has been thwarted in a bold bid for a hat-trick of victories at this year's Vuelta a Espana -- but his consolation after finally running out of steam was to increase his lead at the top of the King of the Mountains standings.
On Sunday's hilly 15th stage between Vegadeo and Monforte de Lemos, Vine, in the mountains classification leader's blue polka dot jersey, led for nearly 100km after going on the attack with his fellow breakaway rider Louis Vervaeke.
After hoovering more big KoM points atop the Alto de Garganta and Alto de Barbeitos Col, the daring pair went on to open up a three-minute lead at one point, with Vine even contemplating the outlandish prospect of a third win after his victories on the sixth and 10th stages.
