Frustrated Tratnik angry with UAE and INEOS after Jaén Paraiso: "The chase was not our responsibility"

Jan Tratnik eventually landed on the podium in the Clasica Jaén Paraiso. The Slovenian cyclist from Visma | Lease a Bike had to swiftly adapt after Wout van Aert's puncture knocked him out of the race. Nonetheless, together with Sepp Kuss, two riders from the yellow-and-black brigade still managed to finish in the top six.

At the fifty-kilometer mark, the first gravel strip of the course emerged, marking the unfortunate moment for Van Aert. The Belgian quickly fell victim to a puncture and, although receiving assistance from Per Strand Hagenes, found himself embarking on a challenging chase alongside Tim van Dijcke and Arnaud De Lie, who were also left behind.

This development presented an opportunity for the breakaway riders, as both Visma | Lease a Bike and Lotto Dstny opted to wait for their leader, effectively putting a halt to the chase. UAE and INEOS-Grenadiers then took the lead, prompting Van Aert to abandon the race thirty kilometers from the finish line. Despite this setback, Kuss and Tratnik forged ahead on the subsequent gravel strip, joining forces with Wellens, Kwiatkowski, the surprising Frenchman Bastien Tronchon, and Ivan Garcia Cortina (Movistar), who worked tirelessly for his teammate at the front.

Tratnik: "Wanted to wait for Wout"

"Wout was the team leader today, and the team's focus was on him. Sepp and I had to respond to attacks from other rivals, but unfortunately, Wout punctured. Initially, we intended to wait for Wout, but afterward, he gave us the green light to continue and make the race hard. Ultimately, we rode well, and we can be satisfied with our performance. We just didn't have much luck today, but another win will come.

Towards the end, UAE Team Emirates, supporting Tim Wellens, and INEOS Grenadiers, backing Carlos Rodriguez and Michal Kwiatkowski, positioned themselves at the front. However, according to Tratnik, this move came far too late. "UAE and INEOS had five riders in the chase, so it's not our responsibility if they misjudged. But that's racing, and we have to accept it."