Vingegaard Closes On Vuelta Win, Pidcock Set For Podium

2 hours ago

Jonas Vingegaard aft winning shape 20 of nan Vuelta a Espana

ByPaul Battison

BBC Sport Journalist

Jonas Vingegaard closed successful connected his first Vuelta a Espana title arsenic he powered to triumph successful shape 20 while Britain's Tom Pidcock tightened his grip connected a first Grand Tour podium finish.

Denmark's Vingegaard, 28, sped distant successful nan last kilometre connected nan gruelling climb up nan Bola del Mundo upland to decorativeness 11 seconds successful beforehand of team-mate Sepp Kuss, nan 2023 winner.

Victory for Vingegaard extends his wide classification lead complete Portugal's Joao Almeida to 1 infinitesimal and 16 seconds earlier Sunday's ceremonial last shape successful Madrid.

Pidcock, 26, vanished fourth. It intends that successful nan wide standings, he is 30 seconds successful beforehand of fourth-placed Jai Hindley, each but ensuring his spot connected Sunday's podium.

It is simply a people of occurrence for nan Olympic and erstwhile world upland motorcycle champion successful his first Grand Tour wherever he has prioritised nan wide classification complete shape wins.

"I'm beautiful proud of myself. It's decidedly nan biggest capacity of my career," said Pidcock.

"It's possibly not nan biggest triumph - others are much typical - but I'm exhausted, to beryllium honest, and I can't really find immoderate words."

Earlier successful nan race, Pro-Palestinian protesters attempted to artifact nan roadworthy astir 20 kilometres from nan finish.

Cyclists were quickly diverted astir a group of astir 50 protesters and nan title was capable to proceed without important disruption.

Race organisers had announced nan the 21st and last shape of nan Vuelta would beryllium shortened from 111.6km to 103.6km.

Organisers did not specify a logic for nan conception removed, which would person crossed nan plush Madrid neighbourhood of Aravaca.

There person been various protests against nan Israel-Premier Tech squad passim nan race, forcing stages to beryllium shortened.

Riders person collapsed arsenic a consequence of nan protests, pinch immoderate saying they person been worried for their safety.

Last week, Israel-Premier Tech began racing successful modified jerseys which did not show their team.

The Israeli subject launched a run successful Gaza successful consequence to nan Hamas-led onslaught connected confederate Israel connected 7 October 2023, successful which astir 1,200 group were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

At slightest 64,605 group person been killed successful Israeli attacks successful Gaza since then, according to nan territory's wellness ministry.