HORROR STAGE 4 TOUR DOWN UNDER FOR UAE | CAN JAY VINE HOLD ON TO OCHRE?

Описание: Tour Down Under Stage 4 shortened due to extreme heat and unfortunately the triple ascent of Old Willunga is removed due to fire danger. Jay Vine and UAE gain time but lose two key riders in the process (Langen and Narvaez). Down to just 4 riders to help him defend, will Jay Vine stay in ochre or lose it all?

​The UAE Team Emirates Situation
​While Jay Vine safely navigated the stage to keep the Ochre Jersey, the day was a disaster for his UAE Team Emirates-XRG support squad.
​Jhonatan Narváez: The defending champion and Vine's "Plan B" crashed early in the stage. He was forced to abandon with vertebrae fractures, a massive blow to the team and the race's excitement.
​Vegard Stake Laengen: The veteran powerhouse also crashed out in a separate incident, leaving the team significantly depleted.
​Adam Yates: Though he finished the stage, reports indicate he is still suffering from a crash on Stage 3 and has dropped out of the Top 10, meaning his ability to act as a "super-domestique" or a secondary GC threat is compromised.
​Can Jay Vine Hold On?
​Vine currently holds a lead of approximately one minute over his nearest rivals (now led by Mauro Schmid of Team Jayco AlUla).
​The Case for "Yes":
​The Gap: A 60-second lead is massive for a race typically decided by seconds.
​The Route: With Willunga gone, the remaining opportunities for rivals to claw back time are diminished.
​Allies of Convenience: Other teams (like Visma-Lease a Bike or the sprint teams) may still help control the race to set up their own stage wins, inadvertently helping Vine.
​The Case for "No":
​The "Four-Man" Problem: UAE is down to just four riders (including Vine) to control the final stage in Stirling. The Stirling circuit is notoriously "punchy" and difficult to control; without Laengen to pull on the flats and Narváez to cover attacks, Vine will be forced to chase moves himself.
​Isolated Leader: If Jayco AlUla or Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe send multiple riders into a move, Vine could be "tactically checked" and lose the jersey if a breakaway sticks.
​Verdict: Vine is still the heavy favorite because of the time buffer, but he is now incredibly "exposed." The final stage to Stirling will be a tactical nightmare for him to manage alone.

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