Vuelta a España stage 17 LIVE – 12 riders up the road as wind threatens summit finish on Alto de El Morredero

That first 43km went quickly!

It looks like we have our breakaway of the day, though not sure how much of a gap the peloton are going to give them.

The uncertainty over how the finish could play out is probably making the peloton keep the group close.

2025-09-10T12:37:47.136Z

Some blue sky peeking through.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-09-10T12:35:22.688Z

Aparicio is caught and no longer chasing the break.

The gap is around 1:45, so not fully ballooning just yet.

2025-09-10T12:34:44.014Z

As well as protesters, wind could be an issue today. Have heard that this morning, the organisers couldn’t erect the finish at the top of the final climb because of high gusts.

If it doesn’t die down, the finish line could be moved 5km down the final climb.

2025-09-10T12:32:42.744Z

Anders Mielke was trying to drum up some positivity at the start.

Ben Turner has a nice new motto for us: “Put a smile on your face, then we can race.”

The chasers have caught the leaders, making in 12 in the lead.

2025-09-10T12:29:25.253Z

The chasing group of four are only 10 seconds down on the leaders, so they should join them soon.

Aparicio is a bit further back, but the peloton seem happy to let these riders go away.

2025-09-10T12:28:40.174Z

Here’s the leading group of eight, just after they got away.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-09-10T12:26:20.683Z

Another rider is also chasing, Mario Aparicio from Burgos Burpellet BH.

The leaders are nearly two minutes ahead of the bunch now.

2025-09-10T12:22:01.861Z

Yes, four riders are trying to cross the bridge between the peloton and the leaders.

They are: Joel Nicolau (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Léandre Lozouet (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Sergio Samitier (Cofidis) and Gijs Leemreize (Picnic PostNL).

The gap is pulling out towards a minute, and I think there’s someone chasing in between the peloton and the break.

2025-09-10T12:17:22.893Z

The riders in the lead are:

Brandon Rivera (Ineos Grenadiers), Madis Mikhels (EF Education-EasyPost), Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious), Patrick Gamper (Jayco AlUla), Timo Roosen (Picnic PostNL), Harold Tejada (XDS Astana), Luca van Boven (Intermarché-Wanty) and Jonas Gregaard (Lotto).

They have 15 seconds, let’s see if this sticks.

2025-09-10T12:15:15.294Z

A group of eight riders have attacked now and have a small gap.

2025-09-10T12:13:54.249Z

Here’s Victor Langellotti having a go.

Ineos clearly want to keep the momentum going after Bernal’s win yesterday.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

We could be in for another long battle for the break.

The roads are rolling but the first categorised climb doesn’t come until 75km have already been raced.

2025-09-10T12:08:26.002Z

This is also the level of focus I bring to these lives. Locked in.

2025-09-10T12:05:25.796Z

Back together again.

15km done so far.

2025-09-10T12:00:33.045Z

The peloton has split – around 30 riders are in a big front group.

2025-09-10T11:58:23.785Z

Kwiatkowski is reeled back in.

A LOT of breakaways have made it to the finish in this race, so there’s going to be a big fight to get away today. Teams won’t let anything go if they don’t have a rider in it, nor will the GC riders want anyone threatening to be given any gap.

2025-09-10T11:56:26.766Z

Kwiatkowski is trying again.

More shaved heads incoming?

2025-09-10T11:55:50.921Z

Here’s the riders passing kilometre zero this morning.

That weather does not look enticing.

And we’re racing!

143km to go until the finish atop the steep Alto de El Morredero climb.

2025-09-10T11:43:10.482Z

There were Palestinian flags and police at the start this morning.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-09-10T11:40:27.112Z

A couple of riders, including Jonas Vingegaard, punctured in the same section of road yesterday.

There is some suggestion that thumb tacks (drawing pins) were deliberately placed on the road to cause this.

2025-09-10T11:39:25.963Z

Unfortunately we’re being caught in the middle of something that maybe doesn’t even really involve us and at the moment we are kind of just the pawns in a very large chess game.

Jack Haig (Bahrain Victorious)

2025-09-10T11:38:46.435Z

Here’s what Jack Haig had to say on behalf of the CPA.

We decided that if there is an incident that we would try to neutralise the race and then that would be it because in the end racing to an undefined finish line is not really fair sport.

Jack Haig (Bahrain Victorious)

2025-09-10T11:37:55.285Z

Here’s some more on the rider vote that took place this morning.

And they’re off for a 4.7km neutral!

2025-09-10T11:28:41.272Z

Important duties for the red jersey.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-09-10T11:26:26.353Z

Just a few minutes until the riders roll out for the neutral start.

It’s 4.7km long today.

2025-09-10T11:23:43.463Z

Hard job to be a commentator on a rainy day, because what team even is this?

Ok, I know, it’s Q36.5 (Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-09-10T11:22:08.526Z

The riders have voted to stop today if more protests disrupt the stage.

According to Daniel Friebe of The Cycling Podcast, the peloton just aren’t keen to race revised finishes like yesterday.