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2025-09-11T13:52:46.967Z
There is again a very strong pro-Palestine presence on the roadside today. Here’s a sample of the protesters at the start of the course.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-11T13:51:08.793Z
A good ride also by Alec Segaert, who is the fourth fastest at the finish.
2025-09-11T13:48:47.482Z
Kelland O’Brien finished his ride very quickly, and is third fastest at the finish. Like Oliveira, he’s another to have stormed to the finish after a relatively slow start.
2025-09-11T13:44:41.749Z
Some in the Ineos ranks may be nervous about the prospect of Ganna’s time ending up being the winning time – if it does, one will be obliged to have their head shaved. That’s what the team has been doing for the previous stage wins at this Vuelta, from Ben Turner and Egan Bernal.
2025-09-11T13:41:00.087Z
Pier-André Côté has finished, with the fourth best time.
2025-09-11T13:38:35.163Z
Oliveira was a whole 8 seconds faster than Hoole, but still 11 seconds down on Ganna.
2025-09-11T13:38:10.231Z
Ivo Oliveira has just posted the 2nd fastest time, having really sped up in the final third of the course. Whereas the likes of Hoole and Pedersen all faded away during that section, Oliveira is the only rider other than Ganna to pace himself for a negative split.
2025-09-11T13:32:10.184Z
Pier-André Côté is going well, fourth fastest at the 2nd check, just a second slower than Ganna.
2025-09-11T13:26:19.671Z
Mads Pedersen, setting what is now the day’s fourth fastest time.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-11T13:23:33.320Z
Cavagna arrives home now, and he also has lost a lot of ground to Ganna in the final third. He’s third fastest, slower than Hoole but quicker than Pedersen.
2025-09-11T13:21:39.282Z
In fact, Pedersen also failed to beat Hoole’s time, so is the 3rd fastest in the clubhouse. The Dane looked much more laboured on the bike in that final stretch than Ganna, moving his shoulders from side to side while the Italian was perfectly aero.
2025-09-11T13:20:43.041Z
He arrives home, 20 seconds slower than Ganna. The Italian’s time is safe.
2025-09-11T13:20:11.038Z
Pedersen has slowed down considerably in this second half.
2025-09-11T13:19:21.038Z
Cavagna’s also going well, setting the third best time at the 2nd check, 3 seconds slower than Pedersen.
2025-09-11T13:16:38.425Z
The final third of the course was where Ganna really sped up, so this is still going to be hard for the Dane.
2025-09-11T13:16:09.288Z
Pedersen’s again quickest at the 2nd check, by a fraction of a section.
2025-09-11T13:15:03.824Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-11T13:11:47.952Z
Pedersen’s up for this – he’s the fastest at the first check!
2025-09-11T13:10:58.239Z
Another time trial specialist, Rémi Cavagna, is off the start ramp.
2025-09-11T13:09:05.647Z
Hoole explains at the post-ride interview that his hand gesture was a response to his making a mistake, at not knowing which way round a corner to go. Whatever happened, there was no way he was beating Ganna today given how fast the Italian’s time was.
2025-09-11T13:07:38.433Z
Another is Mads Pedersen, especially now that the stage has been shortened. He’s looked so powerful throughout this race that you can’t write him off.
2025-09-11T13:07:00.046Z
One rider who could challenge Ganna is his Italian compatriot Matteo Sobrero, who has just begun his ride.
2025-09-11T13:06:13.125Z
Wow! Ganna has absolutely smashed Hoole’s time, by a whole 19 seconds. That’s an enormous margin to put it into him in those final kilometres of the course. That time is going to take some beating.
NEW FASTEST TIME – GANNA
2025-09-11T13:05:10.716Z
Hoole’s time looks like it’s about to be beaten, as Gana enters the finishing straight.
2025-09-11T13:04:35.114Z
Dan Hoole, setting the fast time.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-11T13:03:38.976Z
Ganna’s flying, storming past his minute man Timo Roosen.
2025-09-11T13:01:00.424Z
Ganna’s speeding up – he’s 4 seconds up on Hoole at the 3nd check.
2025-09-11T12:57:56.911Z
Ganna’s through the first check, and he’s a second slower than Hoole.
2025-09-11T12:57:26.894Z
Vernon arrives…and he’s short of Hoole. The Dutchman retains the lead by two seconds.
2025-09-11T12:55:48.817Z
Ganna is looking as smooth as ever, resplendent in the tricolore of the Italian national champion’s jersey.
2025-09-11T12:54:49.491Z
Vernon’s still flying, and is a fraction of a second up on Hoole at the first time check. This could come down to the wire.
2025-09-11T12:54:07.441Z
Hoole’s finished the course in 13:19, 28 seconds quicker than Eddy. He’ll go to the hotseat – for now.
NEW FASTEST TIME – HOOLE
2025-09-11T12:53:16.181Z
A big moment now in today’s stage as Filippo Ganna begins his ride. He’s the favourite for the win today.
2025-09-11T12:52:04.195Z
Whatever ails him, he’s still gone through the second time check with comfortably the fastest time so far – though Vernon will be posting is time soon.
2025-09-11T12:51:09.300Z
Hoole doesn’t look happy about something. He’s thrown his hands up in frustration with something, although it’s unclear what.
2025-09-11T12:49:53.505Z
As a powerful sprinter, Vernon is one of the riders who could benefit from the shortening of the course.
2025-09-11T12:49:23.682Z
Hoole has a nearly rival, however – Ethan Vernon, who’s just gone through the check a second faster.
2025-09-11T12:46:34.598Z
Unsurprisingly, Hoole is quickest through the first time check, 4 seconds quicker than Patrick Eddy.
2025-09-11T12:44:56.701Z
Here was Oscar Riesebeek getting the stage started.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-11T12:43:54.101Z
Jasper Philipsen begins his ride. He’s been quietly in survival mode for the past stages having picked up two wins earlier, and will be wanting to add to that tally in the coming flat stages on stages 19 and 21 – but not today, where he’ll want to take it as easy as possible.
2025-09-11T12:39:48.606Z
Daan Hoole has just become the fifth rider to start, and the first who stands a real chance of winning this stage. The Dutch national champion won a Grand Tour stage as recently as last May, at the Giro d’Italia stage in Pisa.
2025-09-11T12:37:58.928Z
It’s a sunny day in Valladolid, with no sign of any wind shaping the day’s times.
2025-09-11T12:36:38.648Z
The riders will be setting off at one minute intervals.
2025-09-11T12:35:50.828Z
And we’re off! Oscar Riesebeek roll off the start ramp to get stage 18 underway.
OFFICIAL START
2025-09-11T12:32:38.701Z
Vingagaard and Almeida were inseparable on the final summit finish yesterday, both showing signs of fatigue. The fate of the red jersey could depend on which of them tires the least in these final days.
2025-09-11T12:30:12.395Z
In terms of the GC fight, this is a crucial day in Jonas Vingegaard and João Almeida’s battle for the red jersey. Vingegaard currently leads the latter by the slender margin of 50 seconds; depending on how today’s stage goes, that could look a lot more comfortable by the end of the day, or be brought back to within touching distance.
2025-09-11T12:25:09.602Z
The first rider to set off today will be Alpecin-Deceuninck’s Oscar Riesebeek, in about ten minute’s time.
2025-09-11T12:23:14.168Z
The protesters continue to protest against the presence of Israel Premier Tech at the Vuelta, in the contest of the ongoing destruction of Gaza. Spain’s Minister of Sport and Education has called for the team to be removed from the race.
2025-09-11T12:18:22.284Z
Initially, the plan was for it to be a 27.2km course, but that distance has now been halved due to concerns that pro Palestine protesters will affect the race.
Vuelta a España organisers shorten Valladolid time trial to 12.2 kilometres due to expected protests
2025-09-11T12:15:17.123Z
Today is the all-important individual time trials stage, the only stage of its kind in this Vuelta. With the margins still tight at the top of the classification, the time won and lost here could make all the difference.
2025-08-11T19:01:37.333Z
Hello and welcome to stage 18 of the Vuelta a España!