Tom Pidcock attacks Jonas Vingegaard to underline La Vuelta GC credentials as Stage 11 finishes without winner due to protests at finish line
Updated 03/09/2025 at 19:41 GMT+1
Tom Pidcock showed off his general classification credentials with an impressive attack to distance red jersey Jonas Vingegaard on the final climb of Stage 11 in La Vuelta. The stage finished without a winner on Wednesday due to protests in Bilbao. An official statement said: "Due to some incidents at the finish line, we have decided to take the time at 3 kilometres before the line."
Highlights: Pidcock makes GC statement as Stage 11 ends without winner
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On the savage gradients of the Alto de Pike outside Bilbao, Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) managed to do something that no one else except Tadej Pogacar has done this season - drop Jonas Vingegaard.
Two searing attacks in the closing moments of the final climb of a controversial stage in the Basque Country saw Pidcock crest the summit ahead of the red jersey of Vingegaard and the other GC favourites.
But massive pro-Palestine protests at the finish in Bilbao meant Pidcock was denied the chance of adding a La Vuelta stage win to his palmares, with race organisers forced into making the decision to neutralise the stage and redirect the riders away from the demonstrations on the home straight.
As a result, GC times were taken on the outskirts of Bilbao with three kilometres remaining, with nobody declared the stage winner.
In the event, Denmark’s Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) fought back on the descent to join Pidcock on the front of the race as the duo rode past the 3km-to-go banner ahead of their rivals to steal a march on Portugal’s Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) in the battle for red.
With former race leader Torstein Traeen (Bahrain-Victorious) distanced earlier on the penultimate climb of a tough day, Pidcock moved up into third place, 56 seconds behind race leader Vingegaard and just six seconds shy of Almeida.
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‘No stage winner today’ – Riders redirected with 3km to go in ‘strange day’ in Bilbao
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"It’s hard to describe the disappointment," said Pidcock, who was forced to dodge protesters on a climb earlier in the stage.
"I felt like today was my day. I feel like there should always be a finish line – I mean, we’re not riding a f***ing sportive, are we?
"I knew the finish line was at 3km but I didn’t know where 3km was. I was too busy trying to rotate with Jonas. When we passed through there and realised there wasn’t going to be a winner.
"It’s not easy. I think the Vuelta and the organisers did what they could to keep us safe. I don’t want to say anything political because I’ll get in trouble.
"I think people have held back from speaking out, but it can be scary sometimes in the peloton.
"But as long as our safety comes first, and we can continue racing – that’s what we’re here to do. Bike racing has nothing to do with what’s happening on the other [side of the world].
"I think a lot of people talk about what’s on paper, you know. And now I don’t have [anything to show for it]. Well, I’m not saying I would have won – but I had a good chance to win.
"So I’m disappointed, but we’re not going to waste any energy on it because we have a long way to go."
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‘Hard to describe the disappointment’ – Pidcock reflects on strange end to Stage 11
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Pressed on whether he had a message for the people who denied him a chance to add a La Vuelta stage win to his Tour de France stage win from 2023, Pidcock said: "Putting us in danger isn’t going to help your cause.
"Everyone has the right to protest. But putting us in danger is not the way forward. From what I was told, today was going to be the biggest day of protest, so hopefully it’s going to get better."
The lumpy 158km stage in the Bizkaia region of the Basque Country was raced at breakneck speed, with the Visma team of Vingegaard keeping an early three-man move on a tight leash over the succession of seven climbs peppering the route.
Spain’s Marc Soler (UAE), Denmark’s Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Venezuela’s Orluis Aular (Movistar) were the escapees who animated the first half of the race, although Soler’s position in the standings – just 3’30" behind Vingegaard – ensured that Visma never let the gap grow much beyond the one-minute mark.
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‘He’s such a powerful competitor’ – Pedersen attacks at the start of Stage 11
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With Pedersen motivated for the green jersey points at the intermediate sprint 35km from the finish, it must have been with regret that the Danish powerhouse gave up the ghost and called it a day on the Alto de Morga after 80km of racing.
But Pedersen was once again in the mix later in the stage after a second move involving Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step) and Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain) went clear on first of two ascents of the Cat.2 Alto de Vivero.
Pedersen ensured that his efforts were not for nothing after taking third place in the intermediate sprint in Bilbao just moments before the protesters started to force their way onto the road.
With the race returning for a second stab at the Vivero, Pidcock was one of a number of riders forced to ride under a protest banner as the dramatic scenes continued.
By now, the Colombian climber Buitrago was the only rider out ahead after Basque veteran Landa cramped up and was forced to knock off his effort in front of his home fans.
Buitrago was caught just after the summit after a series of attacks from Almeida and Italy’s Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) whittled down the group of GC favourites to a mere baker’s dozen.
Shortly after, on the ride towards the foot of the final climb, the news filtered through that the stage was to be neutralised.
A race direction announcement said: "Due to some incidents at the finish line, we have decided to take the time at 3 kilometres before the line.
"We won't have a stage winner. We will give the points for the mountain classification and the intermediate sprint, but not on the finish line."
A regrouping on the front followed, although this did not deter Pidcock, who put in two huge attacks on the 8.8% gradients of the Alto de Pike to drop all his rivals, including the man in red, Vingegaard.
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‘Take a look at this!’ – Pidcock drops Vingegaard with ‘big ride’ during last climb
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Pidcock went over the summit in pole position to pocket six bonus seconds ahead of Vingegaard and then Almeida, with the Dane battling back on the descent to join the Q36.5 rider out ahead.
Vingegaard himself voiced his disappointment on being denied a chance to take a third stage win on the day of his son’s first birthday in Bilbao.
"When I heard the news I was a bit disappointed and didn’t want to do anything. But Tom (Pidcock) went for it, and he went really fast on the climb," Vingegaard said.
"I had to let him go there. But then I came back over the top. Then we had a good cooperation to take the most time.
"I’m not actually sure if Tom knew that there would be no stage winner because he wanted to keep going afterwards. But I knew, so I just went as fast as possible to the 3km."
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‘Big shame’ – Vingegaard ‘disappointed’ about Stage 11 not finishing with a winner
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Vingegaard praised his Visma team, whose riders – particularly Dylan van Baarle, Ben Tulett and Victor Campenaerts – impressed in their total control of the stage prior to the disruptions.
"The team did super well today. We just controlled the whole day, and they did super well," Vingegaard added.
La Vuelta continues on Thursday with the 145km Stage 12 – another lumpy day between Laredo and Los Corrales de Buelna.
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