On their team, Vine and Soler had been in numerous breakaways, so their climbing points were very high, second only to Van Aert, who had been monopolizing the Green and Polka Dot Jerseys through his constant attacks.
Today's stage featured two First Category Climbs. If either Vine or Soler could successfully snatch the ten points from each, for a total of twenty, they could seize the Polka Dot Jersey.
Although Van Aert held both jerseys before today, everyone knew that once the race hit the true mountain stages, there was no way he could hang on to the Polka Dot Jersey.
And so, as the race progressed, shortly after the breakaway group formed, Vine of the UAE Team launched a solo attack from the peloton, quickly catching the six-man group up the road, which hadn't pulled too far ahead.
His goal was precisely to strip Van Aert of the Polka Dot Jersey.
