Jonas Vingegaard left exposed as Victor Campenaerts quits La Vuelta with illness, Joao Almeida holds two-man advantage
Updated 09/09/2025 at 13:34 GMT+1
Jonas Vingegaard’s support has been stripped bare as La Vuelta hits its decisive week. Victor Campenaerts has quit the race with illness, leaving the Dane with just five team-mates to defend the overall lead against Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock. With mountain stages looming and a flat time trial unlikely to favour either contender, the battle to wear red in Madrid is still wide open.
‘They’ve got to find Victor’s bike!’ – Campenaerts left screaming at 'mechanical mix-up'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Jonas Vingegaard's bid for the red jersey at La Vuelta has taken a hit ahead of the final week after team-mate Victor Campenaerts was forced out through illness.
The Dane (Visma-Lease a Bike) leads Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) by 48 seconds with six stages to go - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - with Britain’s Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) third at 2'38".
But after Axel Zingle’s earlier withdrawal with a double shoulder dislocation, Vingegaard is now down to just five helpers for three remaining mountain tests.
"Unfortunately, Victor Campenaerts will not start Stage 16 of La Vuelta today after falling ill," read a team statement.
"Following consultation with the medical team, it was decided that he is not fit to race."
Campenaerts had been one of Visma’s liveliest riders, finishing fourth from a monster 51-rider break on Stage 12 and later enduring misfortune when a puncture left him screaming in frustration from a neutral service bike on Stage 14.
"I am very disappointed not to be able to help Jonas bring the red jersey to Madrid," said Campenaerts.
"Before I fell ill, I was feeling really good and was able to do my job for the team. I’ll be cheering for Jonas and the guys from home."
Almeida still has his full squad of seven team-mates as he hunts red, and after a stunning win on the Angliru on Stage 13, he looks the biggest danger to Vingegaard.
Pidcock also has seven team-mates, though his focus is more on fending off Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) to stay on the podium.
It has been a turbulent race for Visma. Thieves raided the team truck during the opening week in Italy, stealing 18 bikes - three later found dumped in woodland near their hotel.
They have seen rivals UAE claim seven stage wins and put them under serious pressure in the fight for red.
After two medium mountain stages on Tuesday and Wednesday, the peloton will face a 27.2km individual time trial in Valladolid.
With neither Vingegaard nor Almeida strong favourites against the clock, the decisive blows look set to land on the brutal climbs of the final week - teeing up the possibility of the leader's jersey being settled on Saturday's stage to the imposing slopes of Puerto de Navacerrada.
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