Cycling: Vingegaard Closes On Vuelta Win, Pidcock Set For Podium

Jonas Vingegaard closed successful connected his archetypal Vuelta a Espana rubric arsenic helium powered to triumph successful signifier 20 portion Britain’s Tom Pidcock tightened his grip connected a archetypal Grand Tour podium finish.

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

Victory for Vingegaard extends his wide classification pb implicit Portugal’s Joao Almeida to 1 infinitesimal and 16 seconds earlier Sunday’s ceremonial last signifier successful Madrid.

Pidcock, 26, finished fourth. It means that successful the wide standings, helium 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 the Olympic and erstwhile satellite upland motorcycle champion successful his archetypal Grand Tour wherever helium has prioritised the wide classification implicit signifier wins.

“I’m beauteous arrogant of myself. It’s decidedly the biggest show of my career,” said Pidcock.

“It’s possibly not the biggest triumph – others are much peculiar – but I’m exhausted, to beryllium honest, and I can’t truly find immoderate words.”

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

Cyclists were rapidly diverted astir a radical of astir 50 protesters and the contention was capable to proceed without important disruption.

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

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

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

Riders person crashed arsenic a effect of the protests, with immoderate saying they person been disquieted for their safety.

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