Egan Bernal wins a 16th stage still shortened due to the Propalestinian demonstrations on arrival

The Colombian, who had isolated himself in the final with Mikel Landa, was declared the winner of this stage, whose arrival was tried eight kilometers from the initial line due to very numerous demonstrators in the final on Tuesday.

The Vuelta 2025 continues to be shaken by Propalestinian manifestations. After an 11th stage without winner, the 16th stage, disputed Tuesday, September 9, between Poio and Mos. Castro de Herville, could not go to an end either due to demonstrations on arrival. The organizers therefore decided to remove the final ascent and end the race eight kilometers from the initial arrival, which saw the Colombian Egan Bernal (ineos grenadiers) win in great confusion in front of the Spanish Mikel Landa (Sudal-Quick-Step).

The two runners, present in the breakaway of the day left 60 kilometers from the finish in the company of two Frenchmen from the Groupama-FDJ training, Brieuc Rolland and Clément Braz Afonso, were extirpated about twenty kilometers from the finish to compete for the victory. The latter was tried without even the two runners realizing it, the announcement having been made only a few kilometers earlier by the organization. Brieuc Rolland, first French, finished 3rd, in front of his teammate Braz Afonso (5th).

Six days before the arrival in Madrid, the Vuelta therefore continues to be hectic every day. Tuesday had already been marked by the abandonment of Javier Romo, who had dropped on Sunday when a demonstrator had tried to introduce herself on the road during the 15th stage.

Several minutes from the escaped and without the desire to win the stage, the group of favorites arrived grouped, despite the puncture of leader Jonas Vingegaard earlier. For Egan Bernal, well launched at the start of the Tour of Spain before abandoning its chances of general classification, this victory is still like a form of rebirth. The winner of the Tour de France 2019, who had suffered a dreadful fall in training in January 2022, had not won in the big tour since his two stage victories (and the general classification) of the Giro 2021.

On the French side, the Groupama-FDJ training, which had imposed itself at the start of Vuelta with David Gaudu, collects two new top 5 stage.