Vuelta 2025: Protests disrupt stages as Almeida wins Angliru

BILBAO and ASTURIAS, Spain — The 2025 Vuelta a España entered a volatile second week as racing and politics collided across several stages, with repeated pro Palestinian protests disrupting the race, organisers neutralising a stage finish and João Almeida claiming a dramatic victory atop the Alto de lAngliru on Friday while Jonas Vingegaard retained the red jersey.

The unrest began to affect competition visibly on Stage 10 from Sendaviva to El Ferial Larra Belagua, where Jay Vine of UAE Team EmiratesXRG rode away from a long break to take his second mountain stage win of this Vuelta. The result also saw Torstein Træen lose the race lead, with Vingegaard reclaiming the maillot rojo. UAE extended its strong run with a fourth stage win of the race amid internal headlines: Juan Ayuso on the first rest day announced he will leave UAE Team Emirates at the end of 2025, a split that preceded his later stage successes and pointed to friction within the squad.

Tensions off the road intensified on Stage 10 when pro Palestinian demonstrators breached the roadside and forced riders to take evasive action, causing Intermarché Wanty rider Simone Petilli to crash. Petilli later posted on social...