2025 Vuelta a España
Updated: Wikipedia source
The 2025 Vuelta a España was a three-week cycling race that took place in Italy, France, Andorra and Spain. It started on 23 August in Turin, and finished on 14 September in Madrid. It was the 80th edition of the Vuelta a España and the third and final grand tour of the 2025 men's road cycling season. The race was organised by Unipublic, a subsidiary of Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO). The race was won by Jonas Vingegaard of Visma–Lease a Bike, taking his first Vuelta in his career. Vingegaard won stages two and nine to initially build his advantage over his rivals. However, he got sick during the second week and he had to defend his lead before sealing the race on the penultimate stage to Bola del Mundo, where he won his third stage. Second place went to João Almeida of UAE Team Emirates XRG, finishing more than a minute behind Vingegaard. He consistently challenged Vingegaard in the mountains, winning the stage to Alto de L’Angliru in the process, but he was only able to take time through time bonuses and the time trials. The last step on the podium went to Tom Pidcock of Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, taking his first podium finish on a Grand Tour. He performed consistently in the mountains and held off the challenge from Jai Hindley in the final two weeks. The points classification was won by Mads Pedersen of Lidl–Trek. He had several high placings during the sprint stages and the intermediate sprints while also winning a breakaway stage in the second week. Jay Vine of UAE Team Emirates XRG won the mountains classification. He took the jersey after winning the first mountain stage on stage six and he held on to the jersey until the end of the race. The young rider classification went to Matthew Riccitello of Israel–Premier Tech. He was in a battle for the jersey with Giulio Pellizzari for most of the race before the American took the jersey on the penultimate stage. UAE Team Emirates XRG took the team classification while Joel Nicolau of Caja Rural–Seguros RGA was named the race’s most combative rider. Several stages of the race were affected by pro-Palestinian protests regarding the Gaza war, and the inclusion of Israel–Premier Tech team, with multiple stages finishing prematurely, two without a stage winner. The final stage to Madrid, in particular, was cancelled upon reaching the circuit after several protesters invaded the road and knocked down the barriers. The final podium ceremony was also cancelled as a result. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his "deep admiration" for pro-Palestinian protestors, with Mayor of Madrid José Luis Martínez-Almeida blaming Sánchez for the abandonment of the final stage. Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Sa'ar, blamed the Spanish Government for "inciting" the protests.