LA VUELTA 2025 | STAGE 18 | VALLADOLID > VALLADOLID
Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) is a two-time time trial world champion (2020-21) and he showed why in Valladolid. The Italian had already won a 25.8-kilometer time trial here in 2023. He repeated it today over a shorter distance (12.2 kilometers), covered at an average speed of 56.2 km/h, and taking his eighth Grand Tour individual time trial victory. Every detail counted as his runner-up, Jay Vine (UAE Emirates XRG), lost by… less than a second. Joao Almeida (UAE Emirates XRG) completed the day’s podium ahead of French champion Bruno Armirail (Décathlon-AG2R La Mondiale), but also Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), who finished ninth. The Dane lost 10 seconds to the Portuguese, reducing his advantage in the general classification to 40 seconds. The top five remains unchanged in terms of positions before the last three days of competition, including the ascent to the Bola del Mundo (20th stage), which promises to be a great battle between the favorites.
A well-known destination of La Vuelta, Valladolid is today hosting its 36th start and 37th finish on the Spanish Grand Tour. History has been written in its streets, as they witnessed the finish of the very first stage in 1935, won by Belgian Antoine Dignef. The most recent winner here is Italian: Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers), who won the 25.8-kilometer individual time trial held in 2023.
The one of this 18th stage is half as long (12.2 kilometers), with a flat profile but several corners to break the pace. The riders will need to combine power, technique, and aerodynamics to win. All eyes are on the two leaders of the general classification, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Joao Almeida (UAE Emirates XRG), separated by 50 seconds and the last to start in the late afternoon.
Ganna like in 2023
No fewer than 14 national individual time trial champions are in the streets today. The Dutch champion, Dan Hoole (Lidl-Trek), is one of the first to ride and establishes a first reference time of 13 minutes and 19 seconds. Starting 17th, Ganna overtakes him with a time of 13 minutes, at a 56.2 km/h average speed. Difficult to beat, as experienced by Ivo Oliveira (UAE Emirates XRG, +11″) and Mads Pedersen (Lidl Trek, +21″).
Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) fights hard to dominate the Italian, but falls 12 seconds short. Then comes Bruno Armirail (Décathlon-AG2R La Modiale), standing 10 seconds behind the Italian. Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates) misses what would have been a resounding success for only 0.90 seconds. No one can be faster than the two-time ITT world champion (2020-21). He earned his ninth Grand Tour victory and his eighth in an individual time trial.
Vingegaard loses 10 seconds to Almeida
In the race to La Roja, Vingegaard hoped to lose as little time as possible to his runner-up and big rival Almeida. The Dane finished ninth in Valladolid, losing 10 seconds to the Portuguese, third on the day behind his teammate Vine. The two leaders of the general classification are now separated by only 40 seconds with three days to go before reaching Madrid. Tom Pidcock (Q36.5), Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and his teammate Giulio Pellizzari still complete the top five. Neither distinctive jersey is changing shoulders this evening.
Stage 18
- Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) 13’00”
- Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates XRG) +0’01”
- Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates XRG) +0’08”
GC
- Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) 65h07’13”
- Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates XRG) +0’40”
- Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) +2’39”
