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<\/p>\n‘It’s one of the best moments of my career’: Vuelta champ Vingegaard moved by last-minute ceremony after protests forced the cancelation of final stage and winner’s podium.<\/p>\n
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It was Tom Pidcock’s mom who came up with the idea to have a secret podium for the riders to celebrate. (Photo: (Photo: Filippo Barcatta\/UAE Team Emirates-XRG))<\/p>\n
Updated September 17, 2025 05:56PM<\/p>\n
Jonas Vingegaard<\/a> says the defining moment of his 2025 Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/a> triumph didn\u2019t happen on the road, but in a hotel parking lot, thanks to Tom Pidcock\u2019s mother.<\/p>\n The crowning scene in the Dane\u2019s overall victory was supposed to be in the heart of Madrid in front of thousands of cheering fans, but mass protests forced organizers to cancel the final stage and podium ceremony.<\/p>\n Instead, riders and staff hastily threw together their own podium of sorts, made of coolers, a Vuelta TV backdrop, and some chilled bottles of champagne.<\/p>\n \u201cWinning the Vuelta is very special. With or without a celebration in Madrid,\u201d Vingegaard said. \u201cWhen I heard the news that there was no ceremony, I was very disappointed that the moment of that celebration was taken away from me.<\/p>\n \u201cBut actually, this way, on a cooler, was even more beautiful,\u201d he told Wielerflits<\/a> during a media moment at Visma\u2019s service course. \u201cIt was a much more intimate moment, much more meaningful than I anticipated when I heard the idea. It\u2019s one of the best moments of my career.\u201d<\/p>\n Also read: How the North Americans made history at the Vuelta<\/a><\/p>\n It was one of cycling\u2019s most bizarre but touching podium ceremonies<\/a> for riders who weathered unprecedented political protests that jolted the three-week Spanish grand tour.<\/p>\n Video clips captured riders, staffers, family members and race officials sharing the intimate moment after a harrowing Vuelta rocked by ever-increasing protests.<\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019re going to honor our heroes\u2019 Madrid was swarmed by protesters on Sunday, and race officials had no choice but to cancel not only the final stage but also the post-race podium ceremony in Madrid\u2019s Plaza de Cibeles.<\/p>\n Not wanting to end on such a downer, the offbeat idea came from Pidcock\u2019s mother, who was in town supporting her son after his breakthrough third-place overall with Q36.5 Pro Cycling.<\/p>\n \u201cThe idea came really last minute. It came from Tom Pidcock\u2019s mother. Through Q36.5 and our team, we quickly arranged and set everything up,\u201d Vingegaard said. \u201cWe all had to come from different hotels, but we were close to Pidcock\u2019s team.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was really great that this was all possible. Of course, we had to keep it a secret because Matthew Riccitello<\/a> was also getting his white jersey. If the protesters had known that, it might not have been as safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Riders and teams improvised a final podium Sunday evening after protesters blocked the streets of Madrid. (Photo: Filippo Barcatta\/UAE Team Emirates-XRG)<\/p>\n