Joao Almeida Triumphs at Angliru, Secures Victory Over Jonas Vingegaard in Vuelta a España Stage

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Almeida Wins gruelling Vuelta Stage Amid Pro-Palestinian Protests

Portugal’s joão Almeida powered to victory on the gruelling 13th stage of the Vuelta a España, up the iconic Alto de Angliru, surpassing overall leader Jonas Vingegaard in a thrilling head-to-head battle. The UAE Team Emirates rider seized the lead from teammate Felix Großschartner in the closing kilometres of the 202.7km stage from Cabezón de la Sal.

Almeida and Vingegaard broke away from Jai Hindley and last year’s winner, Sepp Kuss, three kilometres from the summit, launching a fierce sprint to the finish. This victory marks Almeida’s frist stage win in the Vuelta, and importantly, narrows the gap to Vingegaard in the general classification, now trailing by just 46 seconds.

“This is a special one, I still don’t beleive it,” said a visibly tired Almeida. “I just put my pace from the bottom and I just did my bit the best I could. Jonas was always on my wheel. We were both on the limit and I was waiting for his attack anytime. I think this is the hardest climb in the world, it’s crazy, I’m really sore.”

Great Britain’s Tom Pidcock remains in third place but is now 2 minutes and 18 seconds behind Vingegaard.Australia’s Hindley sits in fourth.

The race was once again marred by political disruption. Pro-Palestinian protestors briefly halted the stage before the climb to Angliru, impacting lead riders Jefferson Cepeda, bob Jungels, and Nico Vinokurov. Security swiftly intervened, resolving the situation after a few seconds. The disruption follows a similar incident on Wednesday that forced race organizers to end stage 11 without a winner.

Adding to the controversy, the government of Asturias boycotted Friday’s stage and has urged the Israel-Premier Tech team to withdraw from the race, citing the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Despite the call, Israel-Premier Tech have continued to compete.

two stages remain on Saturday and Sunday, both taking place within the principality of Asturias, as the peloton continues its challenging journey through Spain.

What strategic element allowed Joao Almeida to overcome Jonas Vingegaard’s attack on the Angliru?

The Climactic Angliru Stage: A Race for the Ages

the Vuelta a España witnessed a stunning upset on September 15, 2025, as Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) conquered the legendary Alto de l’Angliru, besting pre-race favorite Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) in a grueling stage finish. This victory marks a important milestone in Almeida’s career and dramatically reshapes the general classification battle. The Angliru, notorious for its punishing gradients and unpredictable weather, lived up to its reputation, delivering a spectacle of cycling endurance and tactical prowess. This stage was a key moment in the 2025 Vuelta,impacting the overall Vuelta a España standings.

Race Dynamics and Key Moments

The stage, spanning 158.5 kilometers, featured several categorized climbs leading up to the Angliru, whittling down the peloton and setting the stage for a decisive showdown.

* Early Breakaway: A strong breakaway group of six riders established a significant lead early in the stage, but was gradually reeled in by the relentless pace set by Visma-Lease a Bike and UAE Team Emirates.

* Vingegaard’s Initial Attack: Jonas Vingegaard launched a powerful attack with 3 kilometers remaining, attempting to isolate Almeida and establish a commanding lead.

* Almeida’s Counter-Attack: Almeida responded with remarkable composure, bridging the gap to Vingegaard and then launching his own decisive attack in the final kilometer.

* The Final Ascent: The final kilometers of the Angliru saw a brutal exchange of attacks, with Almeida ultimately proving the strongest, crossing the finish line a few seconds ahead of Vingegaard. Stage 18 Vuelta a España proved to be a turning point.

Almeida’s Winning Strategy and Performance

Joao Almeida’s victory wasn’t simply about raw power; it was a masterclass in pacing and tactical awareness. He expertly conserved energy throughout the stage, allowing Vingegaard to expend valuable energy in his initial attack.

* Pacing: Almeida’s consistent pacing allowed him to respond effectively to Vingegaard’s acceleration.

* Tactical Response: His calculated counter-attack demonstrated a keen understanding of his rival’s strengths and weaknesses.

* Mental Fortitude: The ability to remain calm and focused under immense pressure was crucial to his success.

* Bike Choice & Setup: Sources indicate Almeida was utilizing a lightweight climbing bike with optimized gearing for the steep gradients of the Angliru. Cycling technology played a role.

Vingegaard’s Performance and Challenges

While Vingegaard demonstrated his climbing prowess, he appeared to suffer from fatigue in the final kilometers. This could be attributed to the cumulative effects of the demanding Vuelta route and the intensity of his earlier attacks.

* Early Effort: Vingegaard’s aggressive attack with 3km to go,while initially effective,may have ultimately depleted his energy reserves.

* Almeida’s Resilience: He underestimated Almeida’s ability to respond and ultimately match his power.

* Weather Conditions: The challenging weather conditions, including strong winds and occasional rain, added another layer of difficulty to the already demanding climb. Vuelta a España weather impacted rider performance.

Impact on the General Classification

Almeida’s victory substantially alters the GC standings in the Vuelta a España. He now holds a commanding lead over Vingegaard, with only a few stages remaining. The remaining stages, while not as mountainous as the Angliru, will still present challenges for the contenders.

* New Leader: Almeida assumes the red jersey (maillot rojo) as the overall leader of the Vuelta.

* Vingegaard’s Position: Vingegaard drops to second place, facing a significant deficit.

* Contender’s Outlook: other contenders, such as Enric Mas and Geraint Thomas, will need to launch aggressive attacks in the remaining stages to close the gap. Vuelta a España contenders are now facing an uphill battle.

Past Context: The Angliru’s Legacy

The Alto de l’Angliru is considered one of the most challenging climbs in professional cycling. Its steep gradients (reaching over 23%) and unpredictable weather have made it a decisive stage in numerous editions of the Vuelta a España.

* Previous Winners: Notable past winners on the Angliru include Alberto Contador, Chris Froome, and Fabio Aru.

* “The Cave” (la Cuevona): The infamous “Cuevona” section, with its extremely steep gradients, often proves to be the breaking point for riders.

* Spectator Impact: The passionate Spanish fans line the roads, creating a vibrant and challenging atmosphere for the riders. Vuelta a España fans are known for their enthusiasm.

Looking Ahead: Remaining Stages and Potential Scenarios

With only a few stages remaining, the focus will shift to defending Almeida’s lead and preventing Vingegaard from launching a comeback.