Four days before the arrival in Madrid, the 18th stage of The return was a little less decisive than expected for the final victory and the general classification. Because this Thursday in Valladolid, the runners finally set off for an individual time trial reduced to 12.2 km, instead of the initial 27.2 km. A decision for “security reasons“linked to very important pro-Palestinian demonstrations since the start of this Tour of Spain 2025. A visibly paying choice since no incident came to disrupt the course of this globally flat and cut for specialists in lonely effort. Party early, Filippo Ganna (Ineos grenadiers) assumed its favorite status by signing the best time in 13 minutes and 1 seconds … thus beating less than a second Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)! In the battle for the red jersey, JOAO ALMEIDA (UAE) achieved an excellent time (3rd to 8 “) and resumes 10 seconds in his rival Jonas Vingegaard (Visma), which has limited the breakage by finishing 9th to 18 “. More info to follow …
VIDEO – Joao Almeida resumes 10 seconds to Vingegaard on this time
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Reduced differences … Almeida will have to go up 40 “on Vingegaard on Saturday
Unsurprisingly, the differences were not very important in view of the reduced distance and the layout of this time. The former double world champion of the time made the difference in the last sector, making a fairly crazy finish when he only occupied 6th provisional place in the 2nd intermediary, 10 seconds from his future Dauphin Jay Vine. The Australian could not face the thunderous return of the Italian champion in the final and misses a 3rd success on this Vuelta For 9 little tenths only. Behind this duo, so we find Almeidavery regular to finish on the podium at 8 “, then the champion of France Bruno Armirail (Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale), Solid 4th to 9 “.
Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) takes 6th place at 11 “, while Awesome must be satisfied with 9th place at 18 “, thus conceding 10” on his main Portuguese rival. The latter returns 40 seconds from the wearer of the red jersey to the general, before the final confrontation scheduled for Saturday at Bola del Mundo. An advance on paper should be enough for the Danish in view of the very similar level of the two men this week, except big crisp.
For the rest, the contenders for the podium and the places of honor stand in a pocket handkerchief. Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) finished 22nd at 29 “just ahead Jai Hindley (23rd to 31 “), while Matthew Riccitello (, To 36 “), Felix Gall (29th to 40 “) and Giulio Pellizzari (36th to 45 “) are not much further. RICITURE take the opportunity to chew 6th place in Felix Gall.
