La Vuelta 2025 Stage 13 recap - Joao Almeida holds off Jonas Vingegaard to win on the Alto de L'Angliru

Cycling fans were treated to some rare sunshine atop the legendary Alto de L’Angliru on Friday but not – as expected – a first ever victory on the brutal climb from a rider in the red jersey.

Despite his best efforts, Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) was unable to get the better of his Portuguese rival Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), who soared to a maiden stage victory on La Vuelta – and his team’s sixth of the race.

Almeida benefitted from some sumptuous pacing from his UAE team-mates Ivo Oliveira, Jay Vine and Felix Grossschartner on the gentler slopes of the Angliru before Almeida took matters into his own hands with around seven kilometres remaining of what is arguably the toughest ascent in pro cycling.

Almeida’s hefty tempo on the front quickly poured cold water on the chances of the remaining escapee, the Luxembourg veteran Bob Jungels (Ineos Grenadiers), before whittling down the group of GC favourites to a mere handful.

With the likes of Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling), Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech), Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) and Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) all unable to keep up, Almeida soon went clear with Vingegaard on his wheel after dropping the Dane’s Visma team-mate Sepp Kuss and Australia’s Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) inside the final five kilometres.

Such was Almeida’s pace that Vingegaard was forced to dig deep to hold his wheel, the two-time Tour de France champion not once coming through for a pull.

The duo’s lead grew on the savage 23.5% gradient of the tough Cuena les Cabres section with 2.5km remaining as the riders momentarily entered the misty clouds usually associated with the rugged peaks of Asturias.

As they emerged into bright sunshine over the summit, Almeida still had the bit between his teeth. The Portuguese climber pushed on as the duo dropped down towards the finish line, ensuring that he took the decisive final corner in pole position.

Try as he might, Vingegaard could not come past Almeida, who surged to the biggest and best win of his career – and moved within 46 seconds of the race summit.

1. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike)
2. Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +0:46
3. Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) +2:18
4. Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) +3:00
5. Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) +3:15
6. Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) +4:01
7. Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech) +4:33
8. Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) +4:54
9. Torstein Traeen (Bahrain-Victorious) +5:21
10. Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) +5:26

The Briton fought back after being dropped early on - and he retained his place on the podium, which is huge given he has never finished in the top 10 of a Grand Tour. Here's what he had to say:

1. Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) "
3. Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) +28
4. Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) +30
5. Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) +52
6. Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) +1:11
7. Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) +1:16
8. Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech) "
9. Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) +2:15
10. Abel Balderstone (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) +3:06

UAE Team Emirates-XRG have now won six from 12 stages so far – and that maiden win for Almeida was the pick of the bunch. He rode the entire climb in pole position and never let Vingegaard come through. And with the bonus seconds, he will edge closer to the race summit tonight. Chapeau!

Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) comes home for third place at 28 seconds. Good effort from the Australian, who will rise a place or two on GC.

There will still be no red jersey winner on Spain’s hardest climb! Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) completes his Angliru masterclass and crosses the line ahead of Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) to take a maiden win on La Vuelta.

Great effort from the Briton who joins Pellizzari and Riccittelo.

But all eyes are on the front two, who emerge from the mist and into sunshine on the downhill run to the line. It’s going to be a two-up sprint for the win on the Angliru.

Whatever happens today, Joao Almeida will be the moral victor after pretty much pacing Vingegaard up the entire climb. Can the Portuguese stay on top or will the red jersey steal the win? We’ll find out in a few minutes as they have just passed under the banner…

It wouldn’t be the Angliru without misty, grainy images of the final few kilometres. Still nothing separates Almeida and Vingegaard. Pidcock is closing in on Riccitello and Pellizzari. Chapeau!

Vingegaard won’t – can’t? – come to the front and it’s still Joao Almeida doing all the work. Behind, Hindley momentarily drops Kuss. Gall, meanwhile, has dropped Riccitello and Pellizzari, while Pidcock continues his lonely pursuit. The gaps won’t be huge, but they will be telling.

They’re onto that hellish 23.5% ramp and pain is etched across the face of everyone. The leaders have 47 seconds now, with the Pellizzari group at 1:15 and Pidcock doing his best to close the gap. The fans are loving this – and, thankfully, there are no protesters getting in the way.

Almeida and Vingegaard now have 35 seconds over Kuss and Hindley as they approach the steepest section, the infamous Cuena les Cabres goat path, where the ramp tilts up to 23.5%.

The Briton has been dropped by Gall, Pellizzari and Riccitello. A real of baptism of fire for him today. Almeida and Vingegaard have 18 seconds on Kuss and Hindley. Almeida is doing all the pacing with the red jersey locked to his back wheel.

Almeida continues his push and that’s the end for Kuss and Hindley, who fall back. Vingegaard is now isolated and is forced to get out of the saddle to keep up with his Portuguese rival.

These are the two riders who will be contesting the stage win today – and the red jersey between no and Madrid.

Jungels has been rumbled by the four leaders, who zip past the Luxembourg escapee and on towards the 5km banner. Almeida drives the pace ahead of Vingegaard, Kuss and Hindley. They all look in good nick.

Gall, Pidcock and Riccitello are 20-odd seconds behind and ahead of Jorgenson, with Pellizzari, Balderstone and Ciccone further back, and the likes of Bernal, Armirail and Traeen over two minutes in arrears.

And then there were four: Almeida, Vingegaard, Kuss and Hindley – in that order – as they have Jungels in their sights.

Pidcock was dropped along with Riccitello on one of the steep double-digit sections.

It’s not often you see this climb in such clarity. The sun is out in Asturias and, for now, there’s no mist or cloud on the Angliru. That’s a first. A win for Vingegaard could well be a first, too – a first in red, that is.

Matteo Jorgenson of Visma and Giulio Pellizzari of Red Bull are off the back, while Felix Gall is also struggling to stay in touch.

Grossschartner still leads ahead of team-mate Almeida on the front as they reel in Vino. Vingegaard, Kuss, Pidcock and Riccitello are all there, with Gall digging deal a few lengths back.