The Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard, not only became champion of the return to Spain 2025, but also took the victory in three of its stages.
Photo: EFE – Javier Lizón
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The return to Spain 2025 reached an unexpected outcome: the 21st stage, which should close with the coronation of Jonas Vingegaard in Madrid, had to be canceled by the manifestations of activists that sympathize with the Palestinian cause and against the participation of the Israel-Premier Tech.
There was no awards ceremony or the traditional podium, but none of this opaque the name of the champion. Vingegaard, Visma leader | Lease Bike, took over the red shirt justice and enrolled in history as one of the strongest runners of his generation.
“The return is one of the great races of the calendar, something I have always dreamed of. Winning here can be said that it is a dream and that, of course, I am happy,” said the Danish after having virtually sentenced the title on Saturday in the world's ball.
It was not a simple career for him. He acknowledged that he was not in his best version due to health problems. “I suffered a little with a disease. It is clear that this has not helped me to be at my best time in recent weeks,” explained the 28 -year -old pedalist.
Even so, he knew how to impose hierarchy in the most emblematic ports of this edition: Limone Piemonte (Turin), Valdezcaray and the world's ball, scenarios of the three stage victories that cemented their consecration. With intelligence, he took every opportunity to scratch second and, above all, he had a luxury team.
The visma showed collective muscle with gregarious muscle like Americans Matteo Jorgenson and Sepp Kuss, who wrapped him in times of greatest wear. In the pulse in front of the UAE Team Emirates, the best squad of the race, showed solidity.
His closest rival was the Portuguese João Almeida (UAE), who discounted him time at the time trial and snatched the victory in the Angliru. However, in the queen stage, Vingegaard showed that he had better legs and dissipated any questions. In the end, the difference was 1:16.
The podium was completed by the British Tom Pidcock, of the modest Q36.5, at 3:11. For Colombia, the most prominent in the general was the Huilense Harold Tejada (Astana), in box 12. They also achieved a place in the top 20 the Bogota Santiago Buitrago and the Cundinamarqués Ega Bernal, winner of stage 16 of this race.
As for the secondary classifications, the American Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech) was the best of young people, the Australian Jay Vine (UAE) stayed with that of the mountain and in regularity, the title was for the Danish Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek).
Vingegaard, master and dream of the Vuelta 2025
With this consecration, Vingegaard expanded the list of winning countries of the Spanish round. Individually, he became the fourteenth to conquer the tour and return. His resume in the three great impression: he completed eight, climbed to the podium in seven and won three.
This edition of the Iberian Round not only had as the protagonist the Danish climber, but also to the proportions. Not only the last stage was canceled, but the eleventh had to be neutralized and the individual counterreloj had to be modified.
Vingegaard referred to the subject. “People do it for a reason. It is terrible what is happening. I think that perhaps those who protest want to have a voice, so it may be the media that must give them that voice. Maybe that's why they are doing it,” the Danish told their country's television.
“Of course, it is a shame that protests happen here in the race, I think we all feel the same in the platoon, but I also believe that they (the protesters) are desperate to find a way of being heard,” added the leader of the visma | Lease bike.
The Danish cyclist Vingegaard is the leader of La Vuelta. Today he showed understanding with protesters in solidarity with Palestine: “People do it for a reason. It is terrible what happens in Gaza. Those who protest want to have a voice. They are simply desperate to get heard.” pic.twitter.com/gOprNBpZXj
– Fonsi loaiza (@fonsiloaiza) September 8, 2025
On the demonstrations, Jorgenson, a champion's partner, was somewhat more direct: “Sometimes cyclists are in our world, but I encourage everyone to realize that more important things are happening right now,” implicitly referring to what happens in Gaza.
Thus the cameras will not show the blockages, Vingegaard shared the focus with the activists. The Palestinian flag was frequently seen on Spanish roads. It was consecrated in a return interrupted by circumstances that are much larger than any sports competition.
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