MONFORTE DE LEMOS, Spain – The second week of La Vuelta a España 2025 delivered a masterclass in tactical warfare as the race’s protagonists battled across the punishing peaks of northern Spain. Over six days that will be remembered as some of the most compelling in recent Grand Tour history, two men emerged from the chaos: Jonas Vingegaard and João Almeida, locked in a duel that has redefined this year’s race for the red jersey.

What began with Jay Vine’s commanding performance at Larra Belagua evolved into something far more significant – a changing of the guard that saw Vingegaard seize La Roja from Torstein Træen, only to find himself matched stride for stride by the resurgent Portuguese climber Almeida. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG locomotive continued its relentless march toward Madrid, claiming five more stage victories and establishing itself as the dominant force of this edition, achieving an unprecedented seven wins from fifteen stages.

Stage 10: Usual Suspects Vine and Vingegaard Rule Larra Belagua

Parque de la Naturaleza Sendaviva > El Ferial Larra Belagua, 175.3km (August 31, 2025)

The Navarran countryside witnessed one of the most brutal breakaway battles in recent memory as 100 kilometers passed before any group could establish itself clear of the bunch. When the dust settled, Jay Vine had claimed his second victory of this Vuelta, while Jonas Vingegaard had wrestled La Roja from the shoulders of Torstein Træen.

The opening salvo came immediately, with attacks flying from the gun on the roads that have played an essential part in La Vuelta’s history. The pace was ferocious – nearly 50 kilometers per hour for the first two hours – as riders desperate for glory threw themselves into the fray. It took 102 kilometers of relentless racing before a group finally formed, featuring Vine alongside teammate Mikkel Bjerg, Soudal Quick-Step’s Junior Lecerf, and an international cast including Michał Kwiatkowski, Kevin Vermaerke, and Harold Tejada.

Local interest came from the Movistar trio of Orluis Aular, Pablo Castrillo, and Javier Romo, representing Spanish cycling on home roads alongside the Caja Rural-Seguros RGA contingent of Abel Balderstone, Joel Nicolau, and Jakub Otruba.

The first selection came on the category-3 Alto de las Coronas, 127.7 kilometers into the stage. Romo crested first, joined by Vine with 43 kilometers remaining. What followed was a masterclass in tactical patience from the Australian, who had endured the early chaos to position himself perfectly for the finale.

Alec Segaert’s prescient attack with 20 kilometers to go established him with a 40-second advantage at the base of the final climb to Larra Belagua. The 9.4-kilometer ascent at 6.3% would prove decisive, first catching Segaert through Pablo Castrillo’s bridge, then witnessing Vine’s devastating acceleration with five kilometers remaining.

“Winning is so so hard, and it’s such an incredible feeling when it happens,” Vine reflected after crossing the line. “I think I made my move two and half hours into the race. At the 2-hour mark I said on the radio: ‘Guys, it’s not happening, better save for tomorrow’. And then there was a crash, I got stuck behind that. We kept jumping for the next 45 minutes.”

Behind the breakaway drama, the real story unfolded in the bunch. Juan Ayuso’s aggressive pace-setting for João Almeida drew immediate responses from Jonas Vingegaard and Tom Pidcock. When the elastic finally snapped, it was Træen who found himself isolated, conceding over a minute and watching La Roja slip away after four days in the lead.

“I’m super happy to be back in the red jersey, it’s really incredible,” Vingegaard said, standing alongside the legendary Miguel Induráin on the podium. “To be there with Miguel Induráin, a big champion in cycling, a legend in our sport, is a nice experience for me. This one is one of the most beautiful jerseys in cycling, so of course I’m happy in having it. Hopefully now I can keep it until Madrid.”

Stage 10 Results

General Classification after Stage 10

Jersey Holders after Stage 10:

• Red Jersey (La Roja) – Overall Leader: Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
• Green Jersey – Points: Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
• Blue and White Polka-dot Jersey – King of the Mountains: Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
• White Jersey – Best Young Rider: Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)

Stage 11: Vingegaard and Pidcock Rule an Eventful Day

Bilbao > Bilbao, Punchy circuit with 7 categorized climbs and 3,185m of elevation (September 1, 2025)

Bilbao delivered chaos in its purest form. What should have been a celebration of the sport’s return to one of its historic venues became a testament to cycling’s unpredictable nature when protests at the finish line forced race organizers to take times three kilometers from the line, leaving Stage 11 without an official winner.

The 2023 Tour de France opener Alto de Laukiz provided the opening salvo, with early attacks from Juan Ayuso, Eddie Dunbar, and Mauri Vansevenant quickly neutralized by Vingegaard’s vigilant Visma-Lease a Bike squad. Mads Pedersen emerged as the day’s protagonist, opening gaps and controlling much of the early racing with characteristic Danish determination.

Marc Soler’s familiarity with these roads – he claimed victory here in 2022 – showed as he animated the middle portion of the stage alongside Orluis Aular. But it was the sight of Basque icon Mikel Landa attacking up the Alto del Vivero that truly ignited the crowds, the Soudal Quick-Step rider providing a moment of pure emotion before being joined by Santiago Buitrago.

The finale belonged to Tom Pidcock, whose devastating acceleration on the final ascent of Alto de Pike left even Vingegaard struggling to respond. The Q36.5 rider crested with a five-second advantage, only to see the race leader bridge the gap on the technical descent.

Race director’s announcement crackled over Radio Vuelta: “Due to some incidents at the finish line, we have decided to take the time at 3 kilometres before the line. We won’t have a stage winner. We will give the points for the mountain classification and the intermediate sprint, but not on the finish line.”

Stage 11 Results

Due to protests at the finish line, Stage 11 had no official winner.

General Classification after Stage 11

Jersey Holders after Stage 11:

• Red Jersey (La Roja) – Overall Leader: Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
• Green Jersey – Points: Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
• Blue and White Polka-dot Jersey – King of the Mountains: Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
• White Jersey – Best Young Rider: Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)

Stage 12: Freed Ayuso Doubles Down

Laredo > Los Corrales de Buelna, Short and intense course with Puerto de Alisas and Collada de Brenes (September 2, 2025)

Juan Ayuso returned to roads that shaped his junior career to claim his second stage victory of this Vuelta, a performance that showcased both his tactical maturity and pure climbing ability. The Spanish prodigy’s victory in Los Corrales de Buelna came exactly where his talent first flowered in youth categories, adding poetic justice to a day that saw UAE Team Emirates-XRG extend their remarkable winning streak.

The stage began with the familiar sight of attackers hurling themselves into the void, seeking glory on roads steeped in cycling tradition. The battle for the breakaway proved ferocious, particularly on the category-2 Puerto de Alisas, where Marc Soler crested first ahead of an impressive cohort of 53 riders.

The breakaway’s composition read like a who’s who of stage hunting: alongside Ayuso rode Mads Pedersen, Pablo Castrillo, Mikel Landa, Magnus Sheffield, Michał Kwiatkowski, Santiago Buitrago, and Eddie Dunbar. With no direct GC threat – Bruno Armirail trailing by 8’27” represented the closest danger – the gap steadily increased while Søren Kragh Andersen and Julien Bernard controlled proceedings to ensure Pedersen claimed maximum points at the intermediate sprint in Barros.

The decisive moment came on the Collada de Brenes, a 7-kilometer climb averaging 7.9% that would separate the contenders from the pretenders. James Shaw, Finlay Pickering, and Brieuc Rolland attempted an early move, but Soler’s patient work in service of his teammate set up the stage perfectly.

With 25 kilometers remaining and three kilometers from the summit, Ayuso struck. His acceleration was devastating, immediately dropping all but Javier Romo, who managed to bridge across for a two-man finale that would showcase Spanish climbing at its finest.

“The truth is that it’s really nice to win here,” Ayuso reflected afterward. “I was in this town, Los Corrales de Buelna, my two years as a junior, racing for the Besaya cycling club. I have many close friends who are from here, and we are going on holiday together in a few weeks. This is a place I’m very fond of.”

The sprint finish proved no contest, Ayuso timing his final kick perfectly on roads he knew intimately. Rolland completed the podium 13 seconds back, while the GC contenders rolled home more than six minutes behind, saving energy for the looming specter of L’Angliru.

“It’s not something I really enjoy, not cooperating fully, but sometimes you have to play smart,” Ayuso admitted about his tactics with Romo. “I knew the road quite well because it’s also where it finishes in the junior race. I knew how to time my sprint and it went perfectly.”

Stage 12 Results

General Classification after Stage 12

Jersey Holders after Stage 12:

• Red Jersey (La Roja) – Overall Leader: Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
• Green Jersey – Points: Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
• Blue and White Polka-dot Jersey – King of the Mountains: Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
• White Jersey – Best Young Rider: Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)

Stage 13: Almeida Tames L’Angliru and Vingegaard

Cabezón de la Sal > L’Angliru, 202.7km with two category-1 ascents before the brutal finale (September 3, 2025)

L’Angliru delivered everything its fearsome reputation promised and more. On a day when Jonas Vingegaard arrived wearing La Roja with dreams of becoming the first race leader to conquer cycling’s most notorious climb, it was João Almeida who provided the masterclass, setting a pace in the final six kilometers that only the Dane could follow.

The Portuguese climber’s victory – his first in La Vuelta – came at the end of 202.7 kilometers that began deceptively fast in Cabezón de la Sal. Early attacks saw the peloton momentarily split, with Felix Gall among those caught behind before the Austrian managed to regain contact after 20 kilometers of frantic chasing.

The day’s break eventually formed with 25 riders, featuring the ever-present Mads Pedersen alongside Antonio Tiberi, Jefferson Cepeda, Gianmarco Garofoli, Bob Jungels, and Rémi Cavagna. Birthday boy Ivo Oliveira – turning 29 – provided the perfect gift to himself by bridging across at kilometer 52 to complete the lead group.

Visma-Lease a Bike’s control proved exemplary, never allowing the gap to exceed 3’40” as the race approached the day’s first major test at Alto de la Mozqueta. The climb provided the first selection, with Nico Vinokurov emerging strongest ahead of Jungels, Tiberi, Garofoli, and Cepeda, though Pedersen’s tenacity saw him regain contact on the descent.

The Alto del Cordal proved even more selective, Vinokurov again setting the pace with only Jungels and Cepeda able to respond. Tiberi’s puncture and subsequent crash on the descent reduced the lead group to two, then one as Cepeda cracked in sight of L’Angliru’s forbidding slopes.

At the base of the final climb, UAE Team Emirates-XRG had reduced the gap to 2’20”, setting up what would become one of the most compelling duels in recent Grand Tour history. Jungels’ solo effort lasted until five kilometers from the summit, when Almeida’s devastating pace change dropped everyone except Vingegaard.

“This is a special win. I still don’t believe it,” Almeida said afterward. “I just put my pace from the bottom and I did the best I could. Jonas was always on my wheel. The last kilometre, I was on the limit. I guess we were both on the limit. I was waiting for his attack anytime and I thought he was gonna pass me on the finish line.”

The Portuguese rider’s tactical acumen proved decisive. By taking the lead early and never relinquishing it, he forced Vingegaard into the role of pursuer on a climb where maintaining momentum is everything. The Dane, despite his obvious strength, could never quite summon the acceleration needed to come around his rival.

“I would have loved to win today,” Vingegaard admitted. “But to be honest, I think João deserved the win today. He was super strong. I did what I could. He deserves the win but of course I’m a bit disappointed that I couldn’t win here.”

Behind the leading duo, Jai Hindley claimed the final podium spot at 28 seconds, ahead of Sepp Kuss at 30 seconds. The day’s racing had crystallized the battle for overall victory into a two-man affair, with Tom Pidcock now trailing by 2’18” in third place overall.

Stage 13 Results

General Classification after Stage 13

Jersey Holders after Stage 13:

• Red Jersey (La Roja) – Overall Leader: Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
• Green Jersey – Points: Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
• Blue and White Polka-dot Jersey – King of the Mountains: Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
• White Jersey – Best Young Rider: Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)

Stage 14: Soler’s Revenge at La Farrapona Pursues UAE’s Streak

Avilés > La Farrapona. Lagos de Somiedo, 135.9km with 3,805m of elevation (September 4, 2025)

The day after L’Angliru, Marc Soler delivered the perfect riposte for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, claiming his fourth La Vuelta stage victory with a performance that showcased both tactical intelligence and pure attacking flair. On La Farrapona – where he had finished second to David Gaudu in 2020 – the Spanish climber finally claimed his revenge while extending his team’s extraordinary winning streak to seven victories from fourteen stages.

The short but brutal 135.9-kilometer stage from Avilés packed 3,805 meters of elevation into its compact frame, featuring the imposing Alto del Tenebreo and Puertu de San Llaurenziu before the summit finish. Jonas Rickaert provided the opening salvo from kilometer zero, though his early optimism lasted only twelve kilometers before being reeled in by a peloton already sensing the day’s potential.

The eventual 24-man breakaway formed after twenty kilometers of fierce racing, featuring Soler alongside Victor Campenaerts, Carlos Verona, Jefferson Cepeda, James Shaw, and Kevin Vermaerke. Campenaerts’ mechanical setback provided early drama, though the Belgian’s determination saw him regain contact at kilometer 57, accompanied by Gijs Leemreize and later Xabier Mikel Azparren.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s tactical mastery became evident on the Puertu de San Llaurenziu, where Ivo Oliveira, Domen Novak, and Juan Ayuso drove a devastating pace that reduced the breakaway’s advantage from six minutes to 3’20”. James Shaw crested the 10.1-kilometer climb first, but the writing was already on the wall for the escapees.

Soler’s acceleration with sixteen kilometers remaining proved irresistible. Johannes Staune-Mittet attempted to bridge, but the Spaniard’s intimate knowledge of these roads – gained during his 2020 runner-up finish – provided the decisive advantage. His solo effort carved out an insurmountable lead despite Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe’s late acceleration and Jai Hindley’s final-kilometer attack.

“It’s an unexpected day, but I’m very happy,” Soler reflected. “I wasn’t planning on joining the breakaway. The plan was different, but I followed Campenaerts, who joined the breakaway, and once there, I knew how to play my cards right. I climbed [Puertu San Llaurenziu] on the wheels, and then I knew the valley from the last time. It’s a very tough valley, and when you open up a gap, you can make it.”

Behind Soler’s triumph, the GC battle continued its inexorable development. Vingegaard and Almeida crossed the line together, 39 seconds behind, with the Dane gaining two precious seconds on his Portuguese rival. Their mutual respect was evident, but so too was their growing isolation at the summit of the general classification.

Stage 14 Results

General Classification after Stage 14

Jersey Holders after Stage 14:

• Red Jersey (La Roja) – Overall Leader: Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
• Green Jersey – Points: Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
• Blue and White Polka-dot Jersey – King of the Mountains: Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
• White Jersey – Best Young Rider: Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)

Stage 15: The Pedersen Way

A Veiga/Vegadeo > Monforte de Lemos, Rolling stage on the eve of the second rest day (September 5, 2025)

Mads Pedersen finally broke through for his long-awaited stage victory, delivering a masterclass in breakaway management that showcased both individual brilliance and perfect team coordination. The Danish champion’s triumph in Monforte de Lemos came from a massive 47-rider group and marked the end of Lidl-Trek’s frustrating drought – nine top-three finishes without a win until their star sprinter took matters into his own hands.

The rolling terrain from A Veiga/Vegadeo provided the perfect stage for opportunistic racing, and attackers seized the initiative immediately. Jakub Otruba’s early move opened proceedings, rapidly building a minute’s advantage before the inevitable chase and counterattack sequence that would eventually spawn one of the largest breakaways in recent Grand Tour memory.

Pedersen’s presence in the break was no accident. Accompanied by four Lidl-Trek teammates – Julien Bernard, Giulio Ciccone, Henok Ghebreigzabhier, and Carlos Verona – the Danish squad had clearly identified this stage as their opportunity. Their numerical advantage would prove decisive in the complex tactical chess match that followed.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s interests were represented by Jay Vine and Ivo Oliveira, the Australian climber seeking additional King of the Mountains points while his Portuguese teammate aimed to extend the team’s remarkable winning sequence. The breakaway’s quality was undeniable: Orluis Aular, Nico Denz, Magnus Sheffield, Egan Bernal, Michał Kwiatkowski, Sean Quinn, Stefan Küng, Eddie Dunbar, and Kevin Vermaerke all featured prominently.

Junior Lecerf’s presence as the best-placed rider on general classification at 18’57” behind Vingegaard added an intriguing subplot, particularly with Giulio Ciccone and Egan Bernal also featuring prominently in the overall standings.

The day’s drama crystallized when Vine and Louis Vervaeke escaped the main breakaway after the Alto de Barbeitos, building a three-minute advantage that seemed insurmountable. Their cooperation was exemplary, each rider contributing equally to maintain their gap as the chase group splintered behind them.

Pedersen’s moment came with 32 kilometers remaining when an uphill section shattered the pursuing group. The Dane led the counterattack alongside Santiago Buitrago and Bernal, drawing in Aular, Sheffield, Dunbar, and Marco Frigo. Their combined firepower bridged to the leading duo with seven kilometers remaining, setting up a sprint finish that played perfectly to Pedersen’s strengths.

The finale was textbook Pedersen. When Frigo opened the sprint with 800 meters remaining, the Dane calmly marked the move before timing his acceleration perfectly after the final corner. Sheffield’s crash in the turn eliminated one potential threat, but Pedersen’s superior speed would have prevailed regardless.

“I have to say it makes the victory even sweeter, the way the team rode today,” Pedersen reflected afterward. “Everyone knew our plan, everyone was looking at us, and still we succeed… Absolutely incredible. When Frigo went with 7-800 metres to go, that was perfect. It was kind of a lead-out. I closed him slowly, and then after the corner it was 220 metres to go, so it was time to open the sprint.”

The peloton, led by Bahrain Victorious in their attempt to limit Lecerf’s time gains, finished 13’31” behind. The gap was significant enough to promote Lecerf to ninth overall, just seconds behind Sepp Kuss and adding another layer of intrigue to the overall classification heading into the final week.

Stage 15 Results

General Classification after Stage 15

Jersey Holders after Stage 15:

• Red Jersey (La Roja) – Overall Leader: Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
• Green Jersey – Points: Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
• Blue and White Polka-dot Jersey – King of the Mountains: Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
• White Jersey – Best Young Rider: Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)

The Second Rest Day Reckoning

As the peloton rolled into their second rest day, the landscape of La Vuelta a España 2025 had been fundamentally transformed. UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s unprecedented dominance – seven stage victories from fifteen contested – represented the best performance by any team in a single edition of the Spanish Grand Tour this century, surpassing Quick-Step Floors’ six victories in 2017.

Yet statistics only tell part of the story. The real narrative lies in the emergence of a two-horse race for overall victory, with Vingegaard maintaining his slender 48-second advantage over Almeida heading into the final week. Behind them, the hierarchy has crystallized: Pidcock holds third at 2’38”, while Hindley has moved into genuine podium contention at 3’10”, benefiting from the late-stage heroics that have characterized Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe’s approach.

Pedersen’s breakthrough victory not only secured the green jersey but also demonstrated that opportunities still exist for those willing to seize them. His tactical patience and team coordination provided a masterclass in breakaway management, while Vine’s continued pursuit of polka-dot glory added another layer to UAE’s multi-pronged assault on the race.

The numbers speak to an extraordinary level of competition: five different stage winners across six stages, ranging from Vine’s climbing mastery to Soler’s opportunistic brilliance to Pedersen’s sprint supremacy. Yet beneath this diversity lies a singular truth – in the crucible of Spain’s most demanding climbs, only two men have proven capable of matching each other stride for stride.

The final week awaits, and with it, the resolution of one of the most compelling Grand Tour duels in recent memory. In the land where legends are forged, Vingegaard and Almeida have emerged from the crucible of the high mountains ready to write the final chapter of La Vuelta a España 2025. The question is no longer who will win, but which of these two exceptional athletes can find that extra margin when it matters most on the roads to Madrid.

Stages 4-9: From the Alps to Andorra and Back to Spain

VALEDEZCARAY, Spain (31 August 2025) — What began as an Italian adventure transformed into a continental tour de force, as La Vuelta a España 2025 wound its way through four nations in the opening week. From the Alpine passes of France to the Pyrenean principality of Andorra, before returning to Spanish soil, the race’s most international edition in history delivered drama, surprises, and the kind of tactical chess match that defines Grand Tour cycling.

Stage 4: Turner’s Last-Minute Glory

Susa → Voiron, 206.7km (26 August 2025)

The longest stage of this edition beckoned as La Vuelta bid farewell to Italy and crossed into France, carrying the peloton over the legendary Col de Montgenèvre and Col du Lautaret before descending toward Voiron. At nearly 3,000 meters of elevation gain, it promised to be a war of attrition.

Five riders—Louis Vervaeke (Soudal Quick-Step), Sean Quinn (EF Education-EasyPost), Joel Nicolau (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Kamiel Bonneu (Intermarché-Wanty), and Mario Aparicio (Burgos Burpellet BH)—escaped early and tackled the day’s significant climbs. Nicolau, hunting polka dots, took first points atop the Exilles climb, but Vervaeke countered at the Col de Montgenèvre, marking La Vuelta’s 13th visit to France.

As the race descended toward Le Bourg d’Oisans, the breakaway’s four-minute advantage evaporated under pressure from Mads Pedersen’s Lidl-Trek squad. The peloton swept up the escapees with 91 kilometers remaining, setting the stage for a nervous run-in to Voiron.

In the finale, an unlikely hero emerged. Ben Turner, the young Briton called up to Ineos Grenadiers at the last minute after Lucas Hamilton’s withdrawal, delivered a masterclass in opportunism. Despite being left without his lead-out train, Turner punched clear in the closing meters to claim his first Grand Tour victory.

“I don’t know what to say to be honest!” Turner exclaimed. “It’s a crazy week, like super crazy! I wanted to come to the Vuelta. The team sent me to Renewi and then they said they did need me. Of course I said yes, I’d do anything to race these races.”

Behind the celebrations, a more significant story unfolded. David Gaudu’s tactical awareness in positioning himself perfectly for the sprint finish earned the Groupama-FDJ leader his first-ever Grand Tour leader’s jersey. With Jonas Vingegaard finishing 42nd and Gaudu 25th—crucially placing eight riders between them—the Frenchman claimed La Roja on a tiebreaker.

“For sure it was on my mind this morning but I didn’t really know if I’d fight for positions in the bunch sprint,” Gaudu reflected. “The team did an incredible job, and this jersey is for them.”

Stage 4 Results

General Classification After Stage 4

Jersey Holders After Stage 4

• Red Jersey (La Roja) – Overall Leader: David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ)
• Green Jersey – Points Classification: Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
• Blue & White Polka-dot Jersey – King of the Mountains: Joel Nicolau (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)
• White Jersey – Best Young Rider: Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)

Stage 5: The Team Time Trial Reshuffles

Figueres → Figueres, 24.1km (27 August 2025)

The transition to Spain brought with it the most technical challenge of the opening week: a team time trial around Figueres that would reset the general classification hierarchy. The 24.1-kilometer test against the clock represented the 17th TTT of the 21st century in La Vuelta, and the power meters would tell the story of who possessed genuine Grand Tour credentials.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG set the gold standard with a blistering performance that averaged 56.8 km/h. Juan Ayuso, João Almeida, and their teammates delivered a masterclass in collective power, finishing eight seconds clear of Visma-Lease a Bike’s polished operation. The time gaps would prove crucial in reshaping the overall standings.

“We knew we would be fighting for the win, but there’s a lot of good teams here, and we need to be realistic,” said João Almeida. “In the end, I think we did a perfect job and we deserve it as well. We had a plan, we did it perfect. Everybody was super strong.”

For Jonas Vingegaard, the eight-second deficit represented opportunity rather than defeat. The Dane reclaimed La Roja as David Gaudu’s Groupama-FDJ squad could only manage ninth place, losing 24 precious seconds in the process.

“First of all, we did a super good job with the team,” Vingegaard reflected. “Maybe we went a bit slower than the other teams in the middle part of the stage. I’m super happy to be back in the red jersey, it’s a beautiful jersey.”

The technical nature of the course caught out several contenders. Lidl-Trek’s solid third place kept Giulio Ciccone in contention, while Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe overcame Matteo Sobrero’s crash to slot into fourth.

Stage 5 Results (TTT)

General Classification After Stage 5

Jersey Holders After Stage 5

• Red Jersey (La Roja) – Overall Leader: Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
• Green Jersey – Points Classification: Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
• Blue & White Polka-dot Jersey – King of the Mountains: Joel Nicolau (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)
• White Jersey – Best Young Rider: Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)

Stage 6: Andorran Drama Unfolds

Olot → Pal, Andorra, 170.3km (28 August 2025)

Andorra, the fourth country to welcome La Vuelta 2025, would prove to be the stage where the race truly ignited. With 3,500 meters of elevation packed into 170.3 kilometers, the route to the Pal ski resort promised fireworks—and delivered them in spectacular fashion.

The day belonged to Jay Vine, the Australian climber whose local knowledge of Andorran roads proved decisive. Racing before his family and establishing a temporary home advantage, Vine escaped from a strong ten-rider breakaway that included Torstein Træen (Bahrain Victorious), Pablo Castrillo (Movistar), and Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana).

Vine’s attack came before the Alto de La Comella, and he used the technical descent—his daily training ground—to establish a gap that would prove unassailable. His solo effort up the final 9.6-kilometer climb at 6.3% gradient delivered his third La Vuelta stage victory.

“I got the call to do this race about four weeks ago. It was not on my schedule originally,” Vine revealed. “So to be able to win in Andorra, in front of my son, of my wife, it’s unbelievable, and incredibly motivating. The last 5k, all I could think about is: ‘This is for you Harrison, this is for you.'”

Behind Vine’s emotional triumph, the real drama unfolded in the chase group. Torstein Træen, the Norwegian who had been lurking in the shadows, delivered the performance of his career to finish second and claim La Roja. His 54-second deficit to Vine was more than compensated by the four minutes and nineteen seconds he gained on the main field of contenders.

The final kilometers witnessed a fascinating tactical battle. Giulio Ciccone’s Lidl-Trek squad set a fierce pace that dropped Juan Ayuso with six kilometers remaining—a critical blow to the young Spaniard’s ambitions. Ciccone himself launched an attack inside the final three kilometers, with only Jonas Vingegaard and João Almeida able to respond, but their efforts came to nothing as they finished together.

“It feels a bit unexpected,” Træen admitted. “A few days ago, I was talking with the other Norwegian rider here, Johannes [Staune-Mittet]. I was talking about a Norwegian GC, and he said: ‘You’re a loser, because you’re so close on the actual GC.’ And I said: ‘When I take the red jersey after the Andorra stage, I don’t think you’ll call me a loser anymore!'”

Stage 6 Results

General Classification After Stage 6

Jersey Holders After Stage 6

• Red Jersey (La Roja) – Overall Leader: Torstein Træen (Bahrain Victorious)
• Green Jersey – Points Classification: Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
• Blue & White Polka-dot Jersey – King of the Mountains: Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
• White Jersey – Best Young Rider: Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe)

Stage 7: Ayuso’s Redemption Ride

Andorra la Vella, Andorra → Cerler, Huesca, 4,211m elevation gain (29 August 2025)

The second-highest elevation day of the entire race would prove to be Juan Ayuso’s moment of redemption. After the previous day’s collapse in Andorra, the young Spaniard delivered a masterclass in long-range attacking that showcased both his tactical acumen and his resilient character.

Ayuso’s audacious move came 22 kilometers before the summit of the Port del Canto, the day’s opening climb. Riding solo over the 24.7-kilometer ascent at 4.4%, he established a foundation for what would become one of the most impressive individual performances of the race.

“It’s one of my best victories, because of how difficult it was,” Ayuso reflected. “The peloton, especially Visma, didn’t want to let me get away, so I had to ride the first hour of the race alone, because I knew I had to go for it.”

Behind him, the chase was fierce but fragmented. Jay Vine bridged across on the descent, followed by a select group including Mads Pedersen, Sean Quinn, and several other opportunists. The resulting 12-rider breakaway established a maximum advantage of 4’10” as they worked together through the valley roads.

Vine’s pursuit of polka-dot points saw him take maximum points at both the Creu de Perves and L’Espina climbs, while Pedersen’s tactical awareness earned him 20 points at the intermediate sprint in Benasque—a crucial score in his defense of the green jersey.

The final ascent to Cerler—21.1 kilometers at 5.8%—became Ayuso’s personal stage. His attack with 11 kilometers remaining initially brought Marco Frigo (Israel Premier Tech) with him, but when the young Spaniard accelerated again inside the final ten kilometers, no one could match his pace.

“After winning my first Grand Tour stage at the Giro, to win a stage here in La Vuelta, which for me is my favourite race, and especially the way I won it today, I think it’s something I will always remember,” Ayuso said.

In the peloton, the tactical maneuvering continued. João Almeida’s attack inside the final five kilometers brought an immediate response from Jonas Vingegaard, with Giulio Ciccone following closely. However, Torstein Træen’s remarkable resilience saw him match their pace to retain La Roja by the narrowest of margins.

Stage 7 Results

General Classification After Stage 7

Jersey Holders After Stage 7

• Red Jersey (La Roja) – Overall Leader: Torstein Træen (Bahrain Victorious)
• Green Jersey – Points Classification: Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
• Blue & White Polka-dot Jersey – King of the Mountains: Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
• White Jersey – Best Young Rider: Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe)

Stage 8: The Sprinters’ Brief Return

Monzón Templario → Zaragoza, 163.5km (30 August 2025)

After two punishing mountain stages, the flatlands of Aragón offered a welcome respite for the climbers and a rare opportunity for the sprinters to reclaim center stage. The route to Zaragoza—marking the 50th time the Aragonese capital has hosted a stage finish—promised to be a straightforward affair, though in La Vuelta, nothing is ever quite that simple.

Three Spanish riders seized the initiative from the gun: Sergio Samitier (Cofidis), particularly motivated as the stage passed through his hometown of Barbastro, Joan Bou (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), and José Luis Faura (Burgos-Burpellet-BH). Their maximum advantage peaked early at 4’10”, but with none posing a threat to Torstein Træen’s overall lead, the sprint teams were content to control the gap.

The finale played out exactly as the sprinters’ teams had scripted. Bou and Samitier managed to drop Faura in the final circuits around Zaragoza, but their brave effort ended with 17 kilometers remaining as the inevitable reunion took place.

Jasper Philipsen, winner of the race’s opening stage in Novara, proved that his early-season form remained intact. Despite becoming separated from his Alpecin-Deceuninck lead-out train in the chaotic finale, the Belgian’s raw speed carried him to victory ahead of Elia Viviani (Lotto) and Ethan Vernon (Israel Premier Tech).

“We won, so there’s nothing to complain about!” Philipsen said. “I lost my teammates’ wheel. I think they did an incredible lead-out again but I was not there. My legs felt like concrete but I managed to win so I’m really happy.”

For Mads Pedersen, the intermediate sprint points represented a small consolation in an otherwise frustrating day. The Lidl-Trek captain secured 13 points to strengthen his green jersey position, though his relegation to outside the top ten in the stage finish highlighted the growing competition in the points classification.

Stage 8 Results

General Classification After Stage 8

Jersey Holders After Stage 8

• Red Jersey (La Roja) – Overall Leader: Torstein Træen (Bahrain Victorious)
• Green Jersey – Points Classification: Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
• Blue & White Polka-dot Jersey – King of the Mountains: Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
• White Jersey – Best Young Rider: Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe)

Stage 9: Vingegaard’s Decisive Strike

Alfaro → Estación de Esquí de Valdezcaray, 13.2km final climb (31 August 2025)

The final examination before the first rest day would prove to be the most decisive yet, as Jonas Vingegaard finally unleashed the form that had made him a two-time Tour de France champion. The Dane’s imperious solo victory at Valdezcaray ski resort not only claimed his second stage win of the race but also moved him tantalizingly close to La Roja.

The day began with typical La Vuelta chaos as numerous riders attempted to establish the break. Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos Grenadiers) and Archie Ryan (EF Education-EasyPost) finally succeeded in breaking free, later joined by Michel Hessmann (Movistar), Liam Slock (Lotto), and Kevin Vermaerke (Picnic PostNL).

The quintet’s maximum advantage of 2’45” never threatened the overall contenders, with Tom Pidcock’s Q36.5 squad and Lidl-Trek controlling the pace. As intermittent showers added an extra element of difficulty, the breakaway was neutralized at the base of the final 13.2-kilometer climb.

Vingegaard’s moment came with devastating suddenness. Matteo Jorgenson’s brutal acceleration 11 kilometers from the summit provided the perfect launchpad for his leader’s assault. When Vingegaard went clear, only Giulio Ciccone could initially respond—but even the Italian climber cracked ten kilometers from the line.

“The moment I put my team at the front on the last climb is the moment when we decided to make today a GC battle,” Vingegaard explained. “I felt super great all day, I asked them if they could speed up, they did, and I tried. To be honest, maybe I didn’t do my homework well enough. I thought I was closer to the finish when I attacked and then I was surprised to see the 10-km-to-go banner.”

Behind the dominant winner, Tom Pidcock’s acceleration in the finale brought him second place alongside João Almeida, both finishing 24 seconds down. Felix Gall limited his losses to just over a minute, while the remaining GC contenders—including race leader Torstein Træen—crossed the line 1’46” behind Vingegaard.

For Træen, it was a day of survival rather than celebration. The Norwegian’s remarkable week in red looked set to end until crucial assistance from other riders in the closing kilometers helped him maintain his slender advantage.

“At the end of the climb I was thinking I will not be in the red jersey, so I’m obviously quite happy that I got some help and managed to hold on,” Træen admitted. “At one point, I got help from two Jumbo guys, so it felt a bit like maybe they didn’t want Jonas to have the jersey yet.”

Stage 9 Results

General Classification After Stage 9

Jersey Holders After Stage 9

• Red Jersey (La Roja) – Overall Leader: Torstein Træen (Bahrain Victorious)
• Green Jersey – Points Classification: Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
• Blue & White Polka-dot Jersey – King of the Mountains: Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
• White Jersey – Best Young Rider: Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe)

As La Vuelta 2025 heads into its first rest day, the race has already delivered more drama and international flavor than many complete editions. From Ben Turner’s unlikely triumph in France to Jay Vine’s emotional victory in Andorra, from UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s TTT dominance to Torstein Træen’s unlikely stint in red, the opening week has set a standard that the next two weeks will struggle to match.

With Jonas Vingegaard lurking just 37 seconds behind Træen and the real mountains still to come, the battle for La Roja remains beautifully poised. The international adventure may be giving way to a Spanish conclusion, but in La Vuelta, the only certainty is uncertainty.