The showdown between Jonas Vingegaard and João Almeida in the final week of Vuelta a España stands evenly poised - according to Philippa York's assessment.
The Vuelta a España 2025 is shaping up to be a thrilling spectacle, with the final week promising a series of mountain stages and a close general classification (GC) battle.
UAE-Team Emirates-XRG has been making waves, with their focus squarely on João Almeida's GC ambitions. The Angliru stage revealed the team's determination, as they secured four wins out of five days racing. This impressive performance puts them on track to break the number of wins by a team in a season record.
Marc Soler clinched the win on the Angliru stage, but the day belonged to Tom Pidcock and Jonas Vingegaard, who surprised an isolated Almeida on the final Alto de Pike climb on stage 11. Vingegaard's stage win marked a significant moment in the race, as he found himself in a strong position to secure overall success at the beginning of the second week.
However, the cost of Vingegaard's time gains could be a factor on the days to come, with many long climbs ahead. He is expected to take time from Almeida in the Valladolid TT, but the question remains whether he can maintain his advantage on the challenging mountain stages.
Almeida, meanwhile, has been consistently supported by the UAE Team Emirates. His performance in the Vuelta a España 2025 saw him achieve second place overall and win a memorable stage atop l'Angliru.
The GC situation is interesting, with nothing decided for the win. Vingegaard and Almeida are considered the two strongest contenders for the victory. However, Jai Hindley, who is expected to face a challenge in the final week due to Giulio Pellizzari being sacrificed to aid him, could potentially upset the duo's plans.
Elsewhere in the race, Bahrain Victorious and Torstein Træen have been taking some of the responsibility for leading the race. Meanwhile, Movistar have had riders in escapes but have come up short so far. Jay Vine infiltrated the escape on stage 15 to take the maximum mountain points and extend his lead in that classification.
The final week of the Vuelta promises to be a rollercoaster ride, with three proper mountain stages to get through before Madrid. Felix Gall, known for his love of steeper climbs, is expected to blow hot and cold for the final six stages. Matthew Riccitello and Junior Lecerf, both in the top 10, are ones to watch, with Riccitello looking more consistent.
The race took an unexpected turn with Juan Ayuso's departure, causing inner turmoil for UAE-Team Emirates-XRG. However, Mads Pedersen managed to break UAE's dominance, winning on Sunday and adding an exciting twist to the GC battle.
As the Vuelta enters its final stages, the tension is palpable. The race is anyone's to win, and the final week is sure to deliver some unforgettable moments.
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