Grand Tour Champion Jonas Vingegaard Officially Confirmed in Vuelta a España Stage 21, but No Stage Winner or Podium Ceremony Held Due to Derailed Madrid Finale

Grand Tour Champion Jonas Vingegaard Officially Confirmed in Vuelta a España Stage 21, but No Stage Winner or Podium Ceremony Held Due to Derailed Madrid Finale

In an unexpected turn of events, the 2025 Vuelta a España came to an abrupt end on its final stage, as pro-Palestine protests disrupted the race in Spain.

The stage from Alalpardo to Madrid, intended to be a short stage of over 100km, was temporarily halted and then cancelled. Riders were told to stop due to protesters storming barriers and flooding onto the race route.

Jonas Vingegaard, who had already secured his victory in the general classification before the stage 21 stoppage, was declared the winner of the Vuelta. João Almeida finished as the runner-up, with a deficit of 1:16. Tom Pidcock claimed the third spot, finishing with a deficit of 3:11.

The protests against the Palestine policy during the Vuelta a España 2025 were initiated by the Spanish leftist party Anticapitalistas and the Solidarity Network against the Occupation of Palestine (Rescop), which includes BDS. However, the decisive street blockade that led to the race suspension was a spontaneous and self-organized action, not directly planned by these groups.

The visit to Madrid on the final day was never going to be smooth sailing due to protests in various corners of the country. The riders were given the opportunity to pour drinks and pose for photos during the processional finale, but the chances of completing the customary laps of Castellana and Gran Via boulevards were always slim.

In the classification standings, Matthew Riccitello won the youth classification, Jay Vine won the mountains classification, and Mads Pedersen won the points classification. UAE Team Emirates-XRG won the teams classification.

Despite the chaotic ending, there was no traditional post-race ceremony in Madrid due to the continued presence of protesters. No stage winner was declared for stage 21, and the results for the 2025 Vuelta a España, including the general classification, were already set before the stage 21 stoppage. After the cancellation, the riders left for their hotels.

This marked a historic moment in cycling, as Tom Pidcock achieved his first Grand Tour podium finish without a literal podium ceremony. The 2025 Vuelta a España will be remembered not just for its intense competition, but also for the unprecedented circumstances that led to its unexpected conclusion.

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