29 aug. 2025

Torstein Traeen rides into Vuelta a España lead

After six days of racing in Italy, France, Spain and Andorra at the Vuelta a España, Torstein Traeen rode into the red leader’s jersey by finishing the first true mountain stage in 2nd. Holding onto La Roja until the first rest day on Monday is not going to be an easy task for Team Bahrain Victorious. 

With no less than eleven uphill finishes, this year’s edition of the Vuelta a España, as the third and final Grand Tour of the year, clearly favours climbers. The selection of Team Bahrain Victorious reflects the characteristics of the course, as the team's co-captains, Antonio Tiberi and Santiago Buitrago, can rely on the support of Jack Haig, Torstein Traeen and Finley Pickering as a last-minute replacement for Damiano Caruso in the mountains. Mathijs Paaschens, Roman Ermakov and Nicolo Buratti are on general support duty, with the latter getting freedoms to try his hand in sprints as well. In the first four days after its start in Northern Italy, the Vuelta a España crossed into France before transferring to Spain.

Team Bahrain Victorious started with high ambitions, all the more so as Antonio Tiberi could ride the initial three stages on home soil. The opening stage was decided in a bunch sprint, but the next day already served up a first uphill finish. While Santiago Buitrago finished just two seconds behind the day's winner, Antonio Tiberi conceded 21 seconds. But the Italian started to feel better by the day, not losing any additional time in the following stages. Following the transfer to Spain was a team time trial - admittedly not a type of racing the team is known to excel at. Thanks to a valiant effort of all riders, Team Bahrain Victorious finished this test against the clock in 11th place with a time loss of 31 seconds to the day's winners.  

The sixth day of racing led from Olot in Catalunya all the way up to Pal/Andorra at 1900 meters above sea level. In dismal weather and after various failed attempts, a ten-rider breakaway formed, and Team Bahrain Victorious had Torstein Traeen in this group, as the best rider on GC in the group, no less. At first, the peloton held this group on a two-minute margin, but then the lead started to grow and peaked out at over six minutes with 45 kilometres to go. Things started to look really good for the riders in the breakaway, and Torstein Traeen was the virtual leader. But when the race leaders crested the Alto de La Comella with 21.5 kilometres to go, their lead had dropped below 4 minutes.

There, Jay Vine made good use of his knowledge of the terrain to attack and stay away all the way to the finish. On the way to the final ascent to the ski resort of Pal, Torstein Traeen stayed with the breakaway. With just under 6 kilometres to go, Traeen accelerated and left all others behind - but Jay Vine was already out of reach. The Norwegian finished the stage in 2nd - good enough to move into the race lead on GC. «I really did not expect to ever wear this jersey. Things were tough for the initial 50 km, but the longer the stage went on, the more I realised I could get it. On the final climb, I attacked and gave it all - which was enough to take la Roja.»  

Before Monday's first rest day, the Vuelta a España continues with one mountain stage each in the Pyrenees on Friday and Sunday, with a transitional stage wedged in between. So defending the GC leader's jersey won't be an easy task. But for the moment, nobody can take that feeling of wearing the coveted La Roja away from Torstein Traeen, and Team Bahrain Victorious has something to celebrate before heading into some serious days at the office before the first rest day.

RESULTS:
80. VUELTA A ESPAÑA, STAGE 6: OLOT - PAL/ANDORRA, 170.3 KM

1. Jay Vine, AUS, in 4:12.36 hours
2. Torstein Traeen, NOR/TEAM BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS, + 0.54
3. Lorenzo Fortunato, ITA, + 1.10

OVERALL GC STANDINGS AFTER 6 OF 21 STAGES
1. Torstein Traeen, NOR/TEAM BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS, in 20:25.46 hours
2. Bruno Armirail, FRA, + 0.31
3. Lorenzo Fortunato, ITA, + 1.01

Photos: Sprint Cycling Agency