Vuelta a España Vuelta 2025, stage 21: Alalpardo - Madrid (108 km)

[Zoetemelk-fan]

I've missed last couple of stages, besides severely behind news.
Just minutes ago rewatched last 6k's of yesterday's stage.
Now today's stage while fast-forwarding, but suddenly...?

Now, THAT was a somewhat faster catch-up than I had expected....

To stay on track, I just sincerely hope that the current and future UCI races will also be able to stay on track all the way to the finish lines in every race ahead.
I guess you can write here that you hope for that?

 

[RedheadDane]

 

[red_flanders]

Folks, the circuit has been invaded by the protesters in the final km.

Wow, who could have foreseen this? Absolutely embarrassing to the sport.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

One rider missing ...

Haha, where is Juanito? This proves the beef between him and the team was pretty big. Adios!

 

[noob]

One rider missing ...

Holy *** No Ayuso!

 

[noob]

Haha, where is Juanito? This proves the beef between him and the team was pretty big. Adios!

Maybe he's hanging out with Mads. He's more fun anyway

 

[Netserk]

Good initiative by Visma, UAE, Lidl-Trek & Q36.5.

 

[Red Rick]

The race has been a complete mess, but if IPT aren't there, there are no problems.

There's just so much unbelievable irony in this.

"Without the targets, there wouldn't be a problem"

 

[RedheadDane]

Good initiative by Visma, UAE, Lidl-Trek & Q36.5.

Honestly, from what I've seen, this looked almost more fun that the official highly structured podium ceremonies.

 

[noob]

Honestly, from what I've seen, this looked almost more fun that the official highly structured podium ceremonies.

I think Jonas agrees with you!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

There's just so much unbelievable irony in this.

"Without the targets, there wouldn't be a problem"

Why is it irony? I was responding to a post that the Vuelta had been a shambles and questioning whether racing in Spain could continue. I was pointing out that the problems were nothing to do with the organisation of the race, and that many other races in Spain have gone ahead without problems. 2023's problems with completing stages was on the organisers. 2025's problems with completing stages were not. The problem is not an issue of racing in Spain, because there have been protests against IPT at other races too. The problem is an issue of the perceived morals and affiliations of one team.

The Vuelta is more integral to the sport than IPT are, and the Vuelta wouldn't have had any of the problems it has had, had Javier Guillén not been forced to invite them by the UCI. I mean, he outright said before it all kicked off that he knew this was going to happen and that the people had a right to protest, but that his hands were tied.

I know a lot of people just want panis et circenses and so anything that disrupts their entertainment is automatically bad, but much though I may love it, let's be honest, sport is just that: panis et circenses. And today's stage would have been a characterless parade stage anyway, so it's not like we lost out on much by way of spectacle anyway. It's not like stages 11 and 16.

 

[RedheadDane]

I think Jonas agrees with you!

Unfortunately I don't know how to post videos from TV2 (and they might be geo-blocked?) but the "Champagne celebration" which normally consists of just 1-2-3 consisted of those 3 of course, but also the other jersey wearers, Bjerg and Grossschartner (probably representing the UAE team competition win), and Oliveira hiding in the background.

As mentioned earlier; PUPPIES!

 

[noob]

Unfortunately I don't know how to post videos from TV2 (and they might be geo-blocked?) but the "Champagne celebration" which normally consists of just 1-2-3 consisted of those 3 of course, but also the other jersey wearers, Bjerg and Grossschartner (probably representing the UAE team competition win), and Oliveira hiding in the background.

@Netserk has posted tv2 vidos before I think. and I used vpn

 

[RedheadDane]

This might work:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1967320003398791267

 

[noob]

This might work:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1967320003398791267

champaigne in ears poor Jonas

 

[Lequack]

Jonas on his phone looks like a troubled teen who just got caught doing something bad and is being scolded by his mom. And love the 10€ behind the phone cover.

 

[noob]

Jonas on his phone looks like a troubled teen who just got caught doing something bad and is being scolded by his mom. And love the 10€ behind the phone cover.

Aren't they waiting for him at the podium? Hence they're worried

 

[noob]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1967319068756816196

View: https://x.com/vismaleaseabike/status/1967319068756816196

Almeida wears contacts

 

[HashRouge]

This might work:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1967320003398791267

This whole thing looked much more fun than any proper podium ceremony I've ever seen. I always think the Tour one is rubbish, with no fans allowed anywhere near. Lidl-Trek's Instagram post had the location as "car park", which just made me laugh even more.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Love the tool boxes with 1-2-3 in sharpie as a podium.

 

[noob]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1967309827417473211

View: https://x.com/vingeupdates/status/1967309827417473211

 

[burning]

Best GT podium ceremony ever tbh

Its interesting that IPT is not being mentioned in the list of organizers even though Ricitello was there to get his white jersey

 

[noob]

Best GT podium ceremony ever tbh

Its interesting that IPT is not being mentioned in the list of organizers even though Ricitello was there to get his white jersey

He's writing a contract with Visma

 

[noob]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1967313411576070223

View: https://x.com/OlsenCycling/status/1967313411576070223


Imma gonna spam all the vids I find of this podium. So fun!

 

[Cookster15]

Congrats to Jonas Vingegaard and Team Visma. Yes they were hot favorites but there are no "gimmies" in cycling. You still have execute and João Almeida gave Visma something to think about. Too bad for him UAE were so poor. So well deserved but sadly his win will be overlooked due to matters which cannot be discussed in this forum. 2023 winner Sepp Kuss was the best we have seen him since he won this race.

On the minor steps of the podium, again Almeida was great. IMO deserves 2nd billing at UAE.

Maybe the most surprising but equally noteworthy was Tom Pidcock grabbing a podium for Q36.5 Pro Cycling. Congrats to him and his new team. Definitely a breakthrough. Pidders surprised me with his climbing, tenacity and recovery over three weeks. Kudos.