The ball went to Jonas, the world got to know João
Now was the moment of truth. There was no time for complaints, no time for distractions, no time to lose – literally, only time to gain. With Sunday's final stage, finishing in Madrid, still shrouded in doubt due to the threat of protests, the penultimate stage, finishing at the Bola del Mundo, which would first pass through Puerto de Navacerrada with a first-category climb, was the setting (a dantesque one, for those who had to do it) for the big decisions of the Vuelta a España, at a stage when the top 10 seemed to be decided: who would take the red jersey, in a battle that would see Jonas Vingegaard start with a 44-second lead over João Almeida; who would complete the podium between Thomas Pidcock and Jai Hindley, who started 39 seconds behind; and who could finish in the top 5 of this edition, despite Giulio Pellizzari's comfortable lead over Matthew Riccitello and Felix Gall.
Major decisions were made in light of what had happened the day before , in what was yet another demonstration by Visma Lease-a-Bike of what a true team should be. On a stage finishing in Guijuelo, the current leader's team realized how crosswinds could affect the race, taking over the peloton train at times even knowing that victory would always fall to a sprinter (as it did, with the inevitable victory of Jasper Philipsen) and managing to get Jonas Vingegaard past in third place , gaining four seconds on João Almeida. The Portuguese rider's time trial gains were nearly halved by a distraction from the entire UAE Team Emirates squad. Once again, the debate over each individual's role returned.
???? ON BOARD | #LaVuelta25
Relive the best moments of stage 1️⃣9️⃣ from inside the peloton!
Relive the best moments from stage 1️⃣9️⃣! pic.twitter.com/pkTOmz549Z
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2025
"Honestly, it wasn't something we planned. We were aware of potential setbacks, and these four seconds made it a great day. I'm not saying they can decide the Vuelta, but it's better to have this advantage. Everything will be decided this Saturday at the Bola del Mundo; we'll see if this lead is enough," said Vingegaard after the stage. "It was another stage completed, with a sprint finish; there wasn't much more to do. The breakaway had a rider, there were some roundabouts that both favored and disadvantaged us, we ended up going the wrong way. I didn't feel in the best shape to fight, but it made little difference," João Almeida, Emirates' leader, told Antena 1, who once again dismissed the team's performance.
???????? #LaVuelta25
???? "It's always better to win seconds than to lose them. Most of all, I'm happy we got through the day without problems." – Jonas Vingegaard
Read more in our race report! ✍️⤵️
— Team Visma | Lease a Bike (@vismaleeaseabike) September 12, 2025
19 stages down, two to go???????? #LaVuelta25
Ready to give it all on the final weekend ???? #WeAreUAE pic.twitter.com/RWDaVJoSmt
— @UAE-TeamEmirates (@TeamEmiratesUAE) September 12, 2025
It seems almost paradoxical, but the team that achieved the most victories in the Vuelta a España (two by Juan Ayuso, two by Jay Vine, one by João Almeida, one by Marc Soler, and a collective victory in the time trial) was the one that showed the greatest weaknesses when it came to protecting its leader. For several stages, some of the key players broke away, trying their luck in stages, or fighting for other objectives like Jay Vine's mountains jersey. However, in the key moments, when decisive chapters arrived, Jorgensen and/or Kuss were still alongside Vingegaard, but Soler and Ayuso were no longer alongside Almeida. That was Emirates' main objective for this Saturday, and Alberto Contador set the tone.
???? @albertocontador 's analysis of the 20th stage of the Vuelta a España 2025:
"He who wanted to make differences, couldn't wait for the World Ball"
???? Since 15:30 on @Eurosport_ES 1 and @StreamMaxES (12:45). #LaVuelta25 pic.twitter.com/lqXVbZvRTl
— Eurosport.es (@Eurosport_ES) September 13, 2025
"They have to attack from the start, right from La Escondida. There's a section with very tough hills, which is why there needs to be a very aggressive race. The Alto de Navacerrada is good, but it can be controlled differently. They need several riders at the front so that João Almeida doesn't have to take on the toughness of the race. That's the only way they can recover. The central idea is simple: put a lot of men at the front to control and toughen the stage before João Almeida attacks to go solo, ensuring that he's more relaxed until that decisive moment. It seems to me that it's very difficult to recover that time, and that's why they must destroy the race," commented the current Eurosport commentator and former winner of the Vuelta three times, including in 2012 in a very similar scenario.
????️ Matxin warns @Eurosport_ES of the UAE's plan to win La Vuelta with Almeida: "We want to assume responsibility, that the last climb will be the longest possible and that there will be a face to face between Joao and Jonas" #LaVuelta25 pic.twitter.com/QJyAB7jXDx
— Eurosport.es (@Eurosport_ES) September 13, 2025
All the odds were set for the 20th stage, which could confirm something that had long seemed certain: João Almeida equaling or bettering the best result by a Portuguese rider in Grand Tours, previously held by Joaquim Agostinho with a second-place finish in the 1974 Vuelta a España. Before the "hell" of the Bola del Mundo, with the final 3.2 kilometers at an average gradient of 12.2%, there would be four more mountain climbs, totaling 4,226 meters of accumulated elevation gain. This was the layout of the stage where heroes are born, with many decisions still to come and room for "surprises."
???? Stage 2⃣0⃣ | Step 2⃣0⃣ ????
???? Robledo de Chavela???? Bola del Mundo. Puerto de Navacerrada⏰ 13:00 CET > 17:17 CET
???? 164.8 km
???? Cercedilla⛰️ 2x3c 1x2c 1x1c 1xESP
+ info ➡️ https://t.co/xT4i752HFw #LaVuelta25 pic.twitter.com/U1rcRHLovD
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2025
???? The plan #LaVuelta25 pic.twitter.com/9NLN9IKqrq
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2025
After a small crash at the neutralized start that caught out riders from several teams, including UAE Team Emirates, the start of the stage quickly revealed that this would be the busiest day in three weeks, with all teams trying to make a difference. Filippo Ganna, who won the individual time trial in the third week, was the first to go and was later joined by Egan Bernal, also on Ineos, at a stage where several small groups were forming right at the La Escondida pass, where Elia Viviani was cut off. Giulio Ciccone and Brandon Rivera were in the lead, and the La Escondida pass was completed with a group that included Jack Haig, Pickering, Aular, Vansevenant, Buitrago, and Labrosse, among others. Next came Puerto de la Paradilla, in this case a third category, with other names like Lecerf, Dunbar, Mikel Landa, Carlos Verona, Vansevenant and Mads Pedersen joining the front five, with Bernal also sticking with that group that was trying to escape.
???? Stage 2⃣0⃣ real start has been delayed slightly due to mechanical issues in the peloton
⛰️ The exit launched from stage 2⃣0⃣ has to wait a while for more events in the peloton #LaVuelta25 pic.twitter.com/8Z3Jx7ToFT
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2025
????- 157 km | Stage 2⃣0⃣ – Stage 2⃣0⃣ | #LaVuelta25
?????????♂️ Besties who shave together, escape together!
???? Win together, fight together… and attack, together too❤️ pic.twitter.com/OCE4k9SeLD
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2025
???? There are several breakaway attempts and a large group gains a few seconds on the peloton!
⚡️ Many attempts to escape and a large group that takes a few seconds of advantage with the squad
⛰ 3️⃣ ???????????????? ???????? ???????? ????????????????????????????????????
1️⃣ ????????? Jack Haig – @BHRVictorious – 3 p. 2️⃣ ?????????… pic.twitter.com/YmkUKi6ZJB
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2025
Only later was there a list from the organization with all the breakaway riders: Bernard, Ciccone, Pedersen, Verona (Lidl-Trek), Aular, Canal (Movistar), Landa, Vansevenant (Soudal Quick-Step), Bernal, Jungels, Rivera (Ineos), Planckaert (Alpecin Deceuninck), Quinn, Van der Lee (EF Education), Armirail, Labrosse (Decahtlon-AG2R), Buitrago, Ermakov, Haig (Bahrain), De la Cruz, Zukowsky (Q36.5), Fortunato, López, Masnada (XDS Astana), Molard, Küng (Groupama-FDJ), Nicolau (Caja Rural), Dunbar, O'Brien (Jayco), Rouland, Verre (Arkéa), Herrada (Cofidis), Artz (Intermarché-Wanty), Vermaeke (Picnic-PostNL), Aparicio, Chumil (Burgos) and Hirt (Israel). In other words, no Visma, Emirates, or Red Bull-Bora, with João Almeida's team taking the lead and Red Bull-Bora looking to set the pace.
???? Going full speed towards the second climb of the day!
⛰️ Go up… And go down! ???? #LaVuelta25 pic.twitter.com/NrbF32mWPZ
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2025
????♂️????♂️????♂️ We have a big leading group with a 1' gap over the peloton
A large group of 3⃣7⃣ cyclists, with almost 1' on the peloton
⛰ 3️⃣ ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????? ????????????????????????????????????
1️⃣ ????????? Joel Nicolau – @cajaRural_RGA – 3 p. 2️⃣ ????????? Carlos Verona – @LidlTrek – 2 p. 3️⃣ ???????? Eddie… pic.twitter.com/SHZe00lA1H
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2025
????- 112 km | Stage 2️⃣0️⃣ – Stage 2️⃣0️⃣ | #LaVuelta25
????♂️????♂️ The breakaway has an advantage of 1'40"! Here are our 36 escapees | Los 36 escapes of the day, with 1'40" over the peloton
????????? Santiago Buitrago????????? Egan Bernal????????? Bruno Armirail????????? Giulio Ciccone????????? Eddie Dunbar
????????? Harold… pic.twitter.com/C7aUK6mCJ9
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2025
Another climb was approaching, this time to Alto del León, a second-category climb of seven kilometers at an average gradient of 7.3% that could have taken its toll on some of the members of the "mini peloton," who were leading with a little over a minute and a half lead over the group containing all the top-ranked riders. The gap never went much further than that, also in the hope that a merge might be made that would allow João Almeida to earn bonus points at Puerto de Navacerrada. However, what Contador had said was partially being fulfilled, with Emirates determined to toughen the pace, with Ivo Oliveira starting to push early on, and then his teammates Juan Ayuso, Marc Soler, Jay Vine, and Felix Grosshartner doing their part. The gap was now just one minute, but the front group was beginning to give way, reduced to 12 with Buitrago, Bernal, Armirail, Ciccone, Dunbar, López, Landa, Bernard, Braz, Hirt, Van der Lee and Muñoz.
???? ????????? Clément Braz Afonso has joined the front group, but it is starting to break up… The peloton is not letting up. 1' advantage at the pace of @TeamEmiratesUAE
⚡️ The group of escapees is breaking up... But the squad is not in a truce. 1' of advantage at the pace of... pic.twitter.com/U8jNK09Iqm
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2025
????- 65 km | Stage 2️⃣0️⃣ – Stage 2️⃣0️⃣ | #LaVuelta25
???? 3️⃣2️⃣ men are working hard at the front of the race, but @TeamEmiratesUAE is keeping them under control from the peloton
???? 3️⃣2️⃣ men in the race head, but @TeamEmiratesUAE sets a very high pace in the peloton
⏱️… pic.twitter.com/3SuNVb4Cfk
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2025
???? First big climb of the day… will we see decisive moves already?
???? First big port of the day and… First decisive movements?
⚡️???????????????????????? ???????? ??????????????????????????????????????????⚡️
????1️⃣↔️ 6.9 km???? 7.6%
⚠️ 11% pic.twitter.com/sEE1qiiUyi
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2025
⚡️ Juan Ayuso sets the pace and only a few can hold on in the group of favorites
???? Juan Ayuso puts on rhythm and very little support in the group of favorites
1⃣2⃣ Breakaway | Escaped⏱️+ 58"
❤️ Vingegaard, Almeida, Pidcock, Hindley… #LaVuelta25 pic.twitter.com/NUw3vc2V8L
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2025
The possibility of bonus points at this stage was truly a mirage, with everything being saved for the Bola del Mundo (World Cup) amidst the many Palestinian flags on the road (but no demonstrations that would lead to the stage being cut short) and once again strong support for João Almeida, who, like never before, had a legion of fans who still believed in a miracle that would put the Portuguese rider in front. The descent stage arrived, with only five riders in front between Ciccone, Mikel Landa, Egan Bernal, Armirail, and Jardi Christiann Van der Lee, Emirates maintaining the crushing pace that was leaving more and more riders behind, and the final 25 kilometers were always uphill with varying gradients. Terror was approaching, as were the decisions, but the first roadblock appeared, with the breakaway breaking through and Mikel Landa taking advantage to surge ahead. Another incident that even left a Movistar rider stranded, but which once again demonstrated that, despite the precautions and increased police presence, the protests against the Israeli team will continue.
⛰ 1️⃣ ???????????????????????? ???????? ??????????????????????????????????????????
1️⃣ ????????? Jardi Christiaan Van der Lee – @EFprocycling | 10 p. – 6"2️⃣ ???????? Julien Bernard – @LidlTrek | 6 p. – 4"3️⃣ ????????? Mario Aparicio – @BurgosBH | 4 p. – 2"
???? @loterias_es | #LaVuelta25 pic.twitter.com/Y733ex3e3k
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2025
❤️???? PURE ?????????????????????????????? ????❤️ #LaVuelta25 pic.twitter.com/J0VyEGUHy8
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2025
#Cercedilla now, calle mayor where you can go for the journey in a few minutes…. or no…. Long live free Palestine!!!!!
Han deflected @lavuelta #LaVuelta2025 pic.twitter.com/dFAiK0Rqia
— AbajoLosMuros (@AbajoLosMuros) September 13, 2025
With 13 kilometers remaining, with that incident now behind them, Mikel Landa led the way with a little over ten seconds ahead. The four chasers were beginning to lose their organization, and the Emirates-led group, which also included the Visma convoy, trailed 1:05 minutes behind. Ten kilometers from the finish, Ciccone had taken command of the breakaway, and Juan Ayuso was closing in, with Felix Grosschartner trying to maintain a high pace in the chase, with Jay Vine and João Almeida, who was always riding alongside Jonas Vingegaard. This was Emirates' biggest problem: they tried to set the pace, broke the peloton, and again failed to prevent the Dane from finishing with three teammates alongside, with Wilco Kelderman at the head of the group. When Vine took the lead in the chase, the gap was under 40 seconds.
????- 14 km | Stage 2️⃣0️⃣ – Stage 2️⃣0️⃣ | #LaVuelta25
???? Mikel Landa is at the front of the race and is about to begin the climb to Bola del Mundo!
???? Mikel Landa is head of the race and is about to start the climb to the Bola del Mundo! pic.twitter.com/JGP7kznIFP
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2025
???? ???????????? ?????????????????? ????????????????????? ????
???? ??????????????? ?????????????????? ??????????????????? ????
???? ????????????↔️ 12.3 km???? 8.6%
⚠️ 20% #LaVuelta25 pic.twitter.com/Z0E5JJfQJ5
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2025
????♂️ Cicco catches Landa and goes solo!
???? Giulio Ciccone hunts Landa and marches alone! #LaVuelta25 pic.twitter.com/ywYYtjzSYI
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2025
Emirates tried to do its job, but everything would depend on João Almeida and the private duel against Jonas Vingegaard, at a stage where, with six kilometers remaining, Egan Bernal and Felix Gall were falling behind, as were Pellizzari (thus putting the youth jersey's white jersey at risk) and Matteo Jorgensen, who has been a key player in the red jersey's defense. The time for attacks was finally coming, considering that the final three kilometers are primarily a challenge against their own, and Ciccone and Landa were about to be overtaken, with the Portuguese rider right behind Jay Vine and Vingegaard always hot on the heels of his closest rival, with the Australian finishing the job and Almeida taking the fight to himself.
????- 5 km | Stage 2️⃣0️⃣ – Stage 2️⃣0️⃣ | #LaVuelta25
????♂️ Jay Vine is setting a strong pace in pursuit of Ciccone and Landa, dropping Giulio Pellizzari, among others
???? Giulio Pellizzari falls to the rhythm of Vine and very little supports the pursuit of Landa and Ciccone pic.twitter.com/kyGx3dBPrW
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2025
The road, besides seeming to push the bikes back because of its steepness, was becoming increasingly narrow and the surface was in more difficult conditions than pure cobblestone. Only five riders remained at the front, with Pellizzari the only one in the top six not fighting for the stage. João Almeida was trying to increase the pace, even without the explosive attack that could have made a difference. Pidcock was beginning to give way slightly to Jai Hindley, who launched an attack, taking Vingegaard with him, and leaving the Portuguese rider in greater difficulty, a small gap that was gradually nullified. The chance of winning the red jersey was fading; the Portuguese rider continued to try to win the stage, Pidcock was trying at all costs, and amidst the doubts, it was Vingegaard who attacked in a 20% zone, leaving Hindley, Almeida, and Pidcock behind and putting an end to the doubts with a victory also in the famous Bola del Mundo.
João Almeida tried his best, despite finishing the stage in fifth place, also behind Sepp Kuss (on his birthday) and Jai Hindley. Vingegaard showed he's a cut above everyone else, where only Tadej Pogacar can reach. Even so, while the Dane won his first Vuelta, the Portuguese equaled the best result ever by a Portuguese rider in a Grand Tour with second place overall, like Joaquim Agostinho's in the 1974 Vuelta against José Manuel Fuente (in an edition where some still claim that an 11-second difference didn't reflect the actual classification).
All things considered, Vingegaard won the stage with a time of 3:56.23, with teammate Sepp Kuss 11 seconds behind and Jai Hindley 13 seconds behind. The stage's top 10 was completed by Thomas Pidcock (18"), João Almeida (22"), Matthew Riccitello (24"), Jay Vine (47"), Giulio Ciccone (1:11), Junior Leclerf (1:22) and Xavier Pickering (1:30). In terms of the overall classification, the Dane, the first from his country to win the Vuelta, has a 1:16-minute advantage over João Almeida, with Pidcock holding third place at 3:11. Next come Hindley (3.41), Riccitello (5.55), Giulio Pellizzari (7.23), Kuss (7.45), Felix Gall (7.50), Torstein Traaen (the big surprise of this edition, 9.48) and Matteo Jorgensen (12.16).
observador
