La Vuelta 2025: Stage 18 cut from 27.2km to 12.2km for 'greater protection' amid protests

Thursday's Stage 18 of La Vuelta - an individual time trial in Valladolid - will be shortened from 27.2km to 12.2km. Organisers announced the news in a press release on Wednesday night. There have been a number of protests disrupting this year's race, and more are expected on Thursday. The race is due to finish in the Spanish capital, Madrid, on Sunday.

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La Vuelta organisers have announced that Thursday's stage 18 - an individual time trial in Valladolid - will be shortened from 27.2km to 12.2km.

A number of protests have disrupted this year's race. More protests are expected on Thursday, prompting organisers to take this move.

A press release on Wednesday night read: "With the aim of ensuring greater protection for the stage, the organisers of La Vuelta, in coordination with Valladolid City Council and following consultation with the College of Commissaires, have decided that tomorrow's time trial will be contested over a 12.2-kilometre route, with the start and finish remaining as originally planned."

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The protests at this year's race disrupted last week's 11th stage in Bilbao - which resulted in no official winner being declared.

The race director said: "Due to some incidents at the finish line, we have decided to take the time at three kilometres before the line. We won't have a stage winner."

And on Tuesday's 16th stage, more protests forced organisers to cancel the final ascent to Castro de Herville at short notice, bringing the finish forward to the 8km remaining banner, at the base of the ascent.

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Organisers have said in recent days that they are determined the race - which is live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - will finish as planned in Madrid on Sunday.

Race director Javier Guillen was asked by reporters on Tuesday whether there was a standby plan in place for Sunday's final stage.

"No Plan B for reaching Madrid, no replacing the Madrid stage, absolutely not," Guillen said.

Wednesday's Stage 17 took place without significant incident, with Italy’s Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) taking his first ever professional win in style.

Pellizzari finished 16 seconds ahead of a battling Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) and his Australian team-mate Jai Hindley, as Red Bull used their numerical advantage on one of the toughest finishes of this year’s race.

Pidcock said it was a "shame" to have to "sacrifice the stage" when he spoke to reporters.

"That’s the sacrifice I guess, when you’re riding for the podium," Pidcock said.

"That could have been really nice. A bit of a shame really. But we’re racing for the podium, that’s the main goal, so we have to make decisions, I guess."

Watch the remainder of the cycling season, including La Vuelta, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+

Vuelta a España