Almeida Takes First Vuelta Stage Win Amid Protests

2 days ago

Stage victor Joao Almeida of Portugal and UAE Team Emirates - XRG competes climbing to nan L'Angliru while fans cheer

Adwaidh Rajan

BBC Sport journalist

Portugal's Joao Almeida outpaced wide leader Jonas Vingegaard to triumph nan gruelling 13th shape of nan Vuelta a Espana - arsenic nan title was again disrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters.

Almeida of UAE Team Emirates-XRG took complete nan lead from team-mate Felix Grossschartner pinch little than six kilometres to spell to nan acme decorativeness astatine nan Alto de Angliru.

The Portuguese and Vingegaard, nan apical 2 successful nan wide classification, past collapsed distant from Jai Hindley and 2023 victor Sepp Kuss pinch 3 kilometres to nan acme earlier nan duo battled it retired successful for nan shape triumph up nan steep ascent.

Earning prize seconds pinch his first shape triumph astatine nan Vuelta, Almeida closed nan spread to Visma-Lease a Bike's Vingegaard to 46 seconds successful nan wide rankings.

"This is simply a typical one, I still don't judge it," Almeida said.

"I conscionable put my gait from nan bottommost and I conscionable did my spot nan champion I could. Jonas was ever connected my wheel. We were some connected nan limit and I was waiting for his onslaught anytime.

"I deliberation this is nan hardest climb successful nan world, its crazy, I'm really sore."

Great Britain's Tom Pidcock remains 3rd wide contempt finishing seventh successful nan stage, but he is now 2 minutes 18 seconds disconnected two-time Tour de France victor Vingegaard.

Australia's Hindley, who took 3rd successful nan 202.7km thrust from Cabezon de la Sal to Alto de L'Angliru, sits 4th successful nan wide classification.

Protesters waving Palestinian flags disrupted nan shape earlier nan climb to Angliru, affecting lead riders Jefferson Cepeda, Bob Jungels, and Nico Vinokurov.

The stoppage lasted a fewer seconds earlier information intervened.

"We were slowed down a spot by a objection during nan race, but that didn't alteration thing - we knew we would beryllium caught by nan best," said Vinokurov, who held a three-minute lead complete nan peloton earlier nan disruption.

The title organisers were forced to extremity shape 11 without a victor connected Wednesday because of protests.

Meanwhile, nan Asturias authorities boycotted Friday's shape while urging Israel-Premier Tech to propulsion retired of nan race.

Stage 13 vanished successful Asturias, pinch 2 much stages connected Saturday and Sunday besides passing done nan principality.

Gimena Llamedo, vice-president of nan principality, said "it would beryllium champion for everyone" if Israel-Premier Tech withdrew from this year's Vuelta.

"We don't person nan capacity to forestall your participation," Llamedo said.

"Not moreover nan authorities of Spain has it. But what we tin and want to do is definitive our disagreement."

After shape 11, nan team, owned by Israeli-Canadian businessman Sylvan Adams, said pulling retired of nan title would "set a vulnerable precedent" successful cycling.

"We must not beryllium impassive aliases indifferent to what is happening successful Gaza. It is simply a matter of conscience, of specified humanity," said Llamedo, urging nan protesters not to endanger nan information of nan cyclists aliases disrupt nan race.

The Israeli subject launched a run successful Gaza successful consequence to nan Hamas-led onslaught connected confederate Israel connected 7 October 2023, successful which astir 1,200 group were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

At slightest 64,231 group person been killed successful Israeli attacks successful Gaza since then, according to nan territory's Hamas-run wellness ministry.

The ministry besides says 370 group person truthful acold died during nan warfare arsenic a consequence of malnutrition and starvation, including 3 complete nan past 24 hours.