On paper, the first twelve stages of this Vuelta a Espana have been very successful for UAE Team Emirates-XRG. The peloton’s biggest super-team have won five stages so far, three on the trot in week one, two apiece for Juan Ayuso and Jay Vine. Joao Almeida sits second in the overall standings.
But all this is merely papering over the cracks. UAE have a serious problem on their hands, one entirely of their own making, that may well sabotage Almeida’s chances of glory ahead of today’s ‘queen stage’.
