Race's eleventh stage of Vuelta a España: Tom Pidcock increases general classification time against race leader Jonas Vingegaard, with the race momentarily halted with just 3 kilometers remaining.
Vuelta a España 2023: Stage 12 Update
The Vuelta a España 2023 is heading into stage 12, with the race moving from Laredo to Los Corrales de Buelna on Thursday. Before the start of the stage, Jonas Vingegaard was leading the overall classification.
Ahead of the stage, concerns of safety arose amid multiple pro-Palestine protests. However, the race proceeded without major incidents.
An early breakaway emerged, featuring Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), and Orluis Aular (Movistar Team). However, the main action unfolded further up the course.
Mikel Landa (Soudal-QuickStep) attempted to ride off the front of the group on the first time up the Alto del Vivero. But it was Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) who made a searing attack over the final ascent, Alto de Pike. Pidcock took bonus seconds and mountain points, distancing his rivals on the 16% slopes of the Alto de Pike.
Jonas Vingegaard joined Pidcock in the attempt to gain time before the neutralisation, which was implemented with three kilometres to go. The officials took the GC times at this point, effectively neutralising the end of the stage.
A chase group of six formed shortly after, consisting of Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike), Jordan Labrosse (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), Eddie Dunbar (Jayco AlUla), Louis Rouland (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), and Kamiel Bonneu (Intermarché-Wanty).
Behind them, Almeida, Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike), Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek), and Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech) finished behind Vingegaard and Pidcock.
Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) bridged across to Landa, but they were no real threat to the overall classification. The pair slowed to a stop as they approached race officials along the road, who prepared to halt the rest of the peloton.
However, the 11th stage of the Vuelta a España did not have an official winner due to incidents at the finish line in Bilbao. The Vuelta a España's stage 11 included seven categorised ascents in and around Bilbao.
Despite the uncertainties, Jonas Vingegaard continues to lead the overall classification of the Vuelta a España, with Tom Pidcock making a significant impact on the race. The action continues in stage 12.
