Juan Ayuso showed signs his climbing form is where it needs to be in this Vuelta España with the Spanish rider taking 3rd on the first mountain stage of the race in Andorra.

UAE Team Emirates had strong numbers to the fore on the stage with Marc Soler (5th), Joao Almeida (9th) and Jay Vine (12th) all within 10’’ of stage winner and new race leader Remco Evenepoel (Soudal – Quickstep).

Ayuso was first of the favourites to hit out at -4km to go with the riders of Jumbo Visma responding immediately, keen to keep things under control. It was then Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) who made a move with Marc Soler quick to respond.

The reduced group came back together at -1.5km with Evenepoel proving the quickest in the dash to the line, before crashing spectacularly shortly after the finish line.

Ayuso now moves up 60 places and sits 11th on GC ahead of stage 4 from Andorra la Vella to Tarragona (184.6km) which should be a day for the sprinters.

Ayuso : “I wanted to try something to try and take back some time on GC, but there was quite a bit of wind out there and it was tricky to get away.

I’d like to thank my teammates who did a spectacular job, in particular today Jay Vine. Soler tried to help me at the finish but it was hard to come around Remco in a finish like today. This result gives me confidence ahead of the next mountain stages.”

Stage 3 results

1.Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quickstep) 4:15:39

2.Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo Visma) +1’’

3.Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) s.t

5.Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) s.t

9.Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) s.t

General Classification after stage 3

1.Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quickstep) 8:43:11

2.Enric Mas (Movistar) +5’’

3.Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ) +11’’