While it was already expected from the outset that the semi-urban time trial held in Valladolid in 2025 would be relatively uneven, the organizers made the decision the day before to reduce the 27-kilometer route to just over 12 kilometers, in response to the protests against Israel that had been called.
Although many doubted that he was actually racing in La Vuelta a España, Filippo Ganna fulfilled the sole objective that kicked off his participation in Turin two weeks ago this Thursday, September 11, and won the only individual time trial in La Vuelta 2025.
There was no bloodshed on this day, and despite the demonstrations being visible on every television screen, no action took place that jeopardized the normal progress of the stage.
A day on which the top favorite, Filippo Ganna, started very early given the gap in the overall standings, setting the fastest time, beating Daan Hoole, another of the first to start, with a time of exactly 13 minutes. Ultimately, he wouldn’t be beaten thanks to a tremendous final third of the stage in which all those who had been threatening his time gradually fell apart, including Jay Vine, who came close to victory, finishing just a second behind the Italian.
Attention shifted to the performance of the top four in the overall standings, with a double battle between Jai Hindley and Tom Pidcock for the third step of the podium and Joao Almeida and Jonas Vingegaard for the lead.
Particularly doubtful was the performance of Tom Pidcock, a cyclist who, for one reason or another, has barely competed in time trials. However, the Briton took advantage of the initial stretch, featuring several tricky corners, to gain four seconds on his rival in the opening section. He maintained this advantage throughout the remainder of the time trial, ultimately bringing him three seconds closer to securing the coveted podium spot.
In the other battle between the Portuguese and Danish riders, the stage began with a close race in the more technical section, but in the second two-thirds of the time trial, a back-and-forth along a long avenue, Joao Almeida showed he’s a bit more of a specialist than Vingegaard, adding seconds to the lead until he finished the stage with a significant 10-second lead, tightening the standings even further.
This Saturday’s stage will be in the Sierra de Guadarrama, although, given the route and how La Vuelta has unfolded, the 40-second advantage Vingegaard still holds in the standings seems insurmountable barring some unforeseen events.
Classification Stage 18
1.- Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers) 13’00”
2.- Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +01”
3.- Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +8”
4.- Bruno Armirail (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) +10”
5.- Ivo Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +10”
6.- Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) +11”
7.- Kelland O’Brien (Jayco-AlUla) +15”
8.- Alec Segaert (Lotto) +16”
9.- Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) +18”
10.- Daan Hoole (Lidl-Trek) +19”
Classification General
1.-Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) 65h07’13’’
2.- Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +40”
3.- Thomas Pidcock (Q36.5) +2’39”
4.- Jai Hindley (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) +3’18”
5.- Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) +4’19”
6.- Matthew Riccitello (Israel-PremierTech) +5’17”
7.- Felix Gall (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) +5’20”
8.- Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) +7’26”
9.- Torstein Træen (Bahrain-Victorious) +7’42”
10.- Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) +10’19”
Source: www.brujulabike.com