Intense competition for the red jersey reaches its peak in the grueling stage 20 of the Vuelta a Espana cycling race
The mountainous stage 20 of the Vuelta a España 2025 is underway, with the riders currently climbing the Alto de la Escondida. The race has been filled with excitement and tension, as Mikel Landa goes clear from the rest of the break and now leads the race, while Jay Vine clings onto the King of the Mountains (KOM) classification.
In the break, there are five riders: Ciccone, Landa, Bernal, Amirail, and Van der Lee. UAE and Red Bull are controlling the peloton's pace, with Juan Ayuso leading the peloton on the climb. Jonas Vingegaard, aiming for the podium, is sure to attack at some point, while João Almeida believes he can take the red jersey today.
The upcoming mountain, the Alto de Navacerrada, climbs for 6.9km at 7.6%. Attacks are being made from the peloton, with Ganna, Kwiatkowski, and Langellotti among those trying to break away. The first big GC attacks are expected to be made on the Alto de Navacerrada.
The gap between the lead group and the peloton is increasing, with the break's lead remaining at 1:30 on the undulating section before the Alto de Navacerrada. Some riders in the peloton are taking comfort breaks, but the pace is being kept high by UAE and Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe.
Egan Bernal has gone clear of the peloton and is attempting to bridge up to the lead group. The gap between the break and the peloton has come down to 1:05, with UAE keeping the break very tightly controlled.
The race for the podium is ongoing, with Tom Pidcock and Jai Hindley in contention. The official start of the race was delayed due to a crash and mechanical issues. A crash occurred in the peloton, involving Brieuc Rolland and Bjorn Koerdt, but both riders are back up and riding.
Jonas Vingegaard looks untroubled so far, safely in the peloton, with only one more climb to survive in the red jersey. The only man who can prevent Jay Vine from winning the KOM classification is Vingegaard, who is 20 points behind him.
The Bola del Mundo, a summit finish that could significantly impact the GC race, is approaching in about 10 kilometers. The leaders have a 40-second lead on the peloton, with a sense of discouragement in the break, where all their efforts look set to be in vain.
Stay tuned for more updates as the race progresses!
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