Jay Vine: 'If I keep Brandon McNulty's wheel, I should win the UAE Tour'

With each passing day of the UAE Tour, Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates) has looked ever more secure in his red leader's jersey, which the Australian was able to capture following the stage 3 summit finish atop Jebel Jais.

Stepping up to the status of team co-leader after the withdrawal of Adam Yates through concussion, Vine rode strongly but somewhat conservatively to second place on Wednesday, catapulting himself above teammate Brandon McNulty in first place overall.

It was a bittersweet moment for Vine, who immediately voiced his frustrations beyond the line to colleague, Mikkel Bjerg. Although his legs had stood up to the gauntlet thrown down by Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, a lack of clarity over the leadership hierarchy at UAE Team Emirates had cost him the chance at stage victory.

Looking over his shoulder to ponder the fortunes of then-race leader McNulty, Vine missed his moment to hit out from the front and in turn, saw Ben O'Connor drift away to the stage success.

Three days on, the Australian who sat in the press conference after stage 6 was a rider with renewed clarity. Gone was the doubt from Vine's mind, replaced instead by a determination not to let this opportunity slip.

"Being in the jersey this time, I'm going to be responding to the people that I have to respond to now," affirmed the Australian.

"Essentially, as long as I keep McNulty's wheel right in front of mine, I should win the overall."

These were bold words from Vine, but words that were weighted in a clinical edge that has seen the former Zwift Academy winner turn into one of the most dangerous climbers in the world. Behind his every pedal stroke lies a calculation and nowhere is this more apparent than during the penultimate stage.

The day, which was won by Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), saw Vine remain innocuous to the TV feed, but spent his time in the saddle strategising for Sunday's grand finale on Jebel Hafeet.

"It's a big day tomorrow, I'm probably predicting about 4,000 calories, maybe a bit more, so you have to be fuelling today for tomorrow's effort. That involves fuelling even from this morning, then fuelling on the bike and then into this evening," Vine said.

"I will probably go with something plain [for dinner] to be honest with some rice, and some simple proteins."

With his nutrition plan set in stone and a willing team of riders around him, Vine looks like UAE Team Emirates' best hope for reclaiming the title they lost to Remco Evenepoel in 2023. But they will be wary that from each side of the road will come a different threat on Sunday afternoon, as the rest of the top 10 guns for a race-winning blow.

Vine anticipates heat to play big role on Jebel Hafeet

On Wednesday, it was Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale's O'Connor that put paid to UAE Team Emirates' hopes of adding a second stage win to their collection, after McNulty's time trial success on stage 2. Looking ahead to Jebel Hafeet, Vine batted away the suggestion that his team would need to ride defensively.

"If you look at previous years it's really up to the people that want to take time to make the race hard. The likes of Decathlon have a bunch of climbers that they can use up from the lower slopes, as well as Quick-Step, so it shouldn't be all up to us."

Read more: When plans come to fruition: Ben O'Connor hits the jackpot at UAE Tour

Pointing to Mikkel Bjerg as crucial to their hopes of shutting down the offensive efforts of their rivals, the Australian also sported a look of anticipation as he eyed up the promise of 30+ degree heat on the slopes of the final climb.

Speaking to GCN at UAE Team Emirates' training camp in January, the 28-year-old revealed that riding in high temperatures was one of his strengths.

"I [once] realised ‘okay, just because you come from Australia doesn't mean you're going to be good in the heat.’ So it's been part of my training and work ethic ever since."

With this in mind, Sunday afternoon should suit the race leader well, and Vine went as far as to send a subtle warning to his rivals on the eve of the seventh and final stage.

"The climate tomorrow is also probably going to be the hottest it has been all week, so we'll see if that catches people out. It usually does every year, so the heat on that final climb on the big long straight is pretty important."

For all the important information about the 2024 UAE Tour, be sure to check out our dedicated race hub for our full preview, the race startlist and much more.