Vuelta reaches Spain as UAE wins Figueres TTT and Vingegaard shines

FIGUERES, Spain — The 2025 Vuelta a España moved into Spain with a fast, decisive team time trial in Figueres on Wednesday, then erupted across a sequence of summit finishes that have already reshaped the general classification. UAE Team Emirates powered to victory in the 24.1 kilometre Figueres TTT, with pre-race favourites Visma Lease a Bike finishing narrowly behind, and the opening week culminated in Jonas Vingegaard roaring back with a solo win on the Valdezcaray climb as the race heads into its first rest day.

The Figueres TTT arrived on stage five after four opening days through Italy and France and produced the first clear gaps of the race. UAE claimed the stage, with Visma eight seconds adrift, a result that briefly shuffled the top positions and set up contrasting tactics for the mountains to come. The day was not free of controversy. Organisers later adjusted the classification for Israel Premier Tech after protesters slowed their run during the TTT, restoring the team’s time to account for the disruption, organisers said.

Stage six delivered the Vuelta’s first real high mountain test, a 170km route into Andorra with a summit finish at Pal. Jay Vine sprinted clear to...