La Vuelta 2025: Stage 16 & 17 Shake-Up and What It Means for the Final Week

La Vuelta 2025: Stage 16 & 17 Shake-Up and What It Means for the Final Week

The third week of the 2025 Vuelta a España has been nothing short of chaotic and dramatic. From protests disrupting the race to a breakthrough win atop El Morredero, the red jersey battle remains alive — though one man still looks firmly in control.

Stage 16: Disruption and Bernal’s Comeback

Stage 16 should have been a decisive medium-mountain battle finishing on the steep slopes of Castro de Herville. Instead, it became a story of external drama: a protest on the final climb forced organizers to shorten the stage by 8 km, neutralising what could have been a major GC flashpoint.

• Egan Bernal rolled back the years with a sharp sprint finish, beating Mikel Landa and reminding the peloton that he’s still a Grand Tour winner at heart.

• Jonas Vingegaard kept his cool despite a late puncture, finishing safely in the main group and defending his red jersey.

• The biggest loser was the spectacle itself — fans and riders alike were left frustrated that another protest cut short a Grand Tour stage.

Stage 17: Pellizzari’s Breakthrough

If Stage 16 was a disappointment, Stage 17 more than made up for it. The finish atop Alto de El Morredero was pure drama, with young Italian Giulio Pellizzari launching a fearless attack inside the final 4 km and holding off the GC favourites to take his first Grand Tour stage win.

• Tom Pidcock chased valiantly, finishing second, while Jai Hindley took third.

• Vingegaard once again showed composure, marking João Almeida’s moves and even nicking a couple of seconds.

• The Dane’s lead is now around 50 seconds over Almeida, with Pidcock in third, setting up an intriguing final showdown.

What It Means for the Red Jersey

With just a handful of stages left, here’s the situation:

• Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike): Still the favourite. His climbing looks untouchable, and he’s defended the jersey through crashes, punctures, and protests.

• João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates): His best chance comes in the Stage 20 time trial. He needs to limit losses in the mountains and hope to overturn the deficit against the clock.

• Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers): Consistent and dangerous on punchy finishes, but may lack the firepower for a full assault on red.

• Jai Hindley (BORA – hansgrohe): Back in the mix, but likely battling for the podium rather than overall victory.

What’s Next

The upcoming stages promise more fireworks:

• Stage 18: A hilly day where breakaway riders will fancy their chances. GC riders will try to conserve energy.

• Stage 19: The last big mountain test — a real chance for Almeida or Pidcock to attack.

• Stage 20: The individual time trial, where Almeida is expected to be stronger than Vingegaard. Could this be the decisive moment?

• Stage 21 (Madrid): A sprint showcase and celebration — assuming red is secured by then.

Final Word

Stages 16 and 17 reminded us why Grand Tours are unpredictable: protests, punctures, and unexpected heroes can change the script in an instant. But despite all the twists, Jonas Vingegaard still looks like the man to beat. If Almeida can deliver the time trial of his life, the red jersey may still be in play — but the Dane has shown before he knows how to defend a lead all the way to Madrid.