Filippo Ganna wins shortened Vuelta time trial as Tom Pidcock holds third

Filippo Ganna won a shortened individual time trial on stage 18 of the Vuelta a España in Valladolid on Thursday, while Britain’s Tom Pidcock retained third place in the general classification as Joao Almeida reduced Jonas Vingegaard’s overall advantage.

Race organisers cut the stage from 27.2 kilometres to 12.2 kilometres overnight, citing security concerns after a series of pro‑Palestinian demonstrations during the three‑week race. Police numbers along the route were increased and AFP reported two protestors were detained after trying to jump barriers. Hundreds of demonstrators waved flags and some whistled riders from Israel–Premier Tech as the shortened run unfolded.

The two‑time world time trial champion produced a late push to claim the stage, stopping the clock at 13 minutes 00 seconds and edging Australian Jay Vine by one second. "Obviously, with the news of the change in the parcours [route] last night it was a bit strange, but I tried to do the best today," Ganna said. "The first part I didn't find the correct rhythm and in the final I tried to push over without thinking of the numbers. I am really happy for today." Ganna was 10 seconds quicker than anyone else over the final four kilometres, the Ineos Grenadiers rider said.

Joao Almeida of UAE Team Emirates‑XRG finished third on the stage, eight seconds down on Ganna, and took 10 seconds out of overall leader Jonas Vingegaard’s advantage. Vingegaard was ninth on the stage, 18 seconds slower than Ganna, leaving the Danish Visma‑Lease a Bike rider 40 seconds clear of Almeida with two competitive stages remaining.

Pidcock, riding for Q36.5 Pro Cycling, was 29 seconds off Ganna’s time on the day but extended his margin over Australian Jai Hindley in the fight for the final podium position by three seconds. With a relatively flat 161.9km stage from Rueda to Guijuelo scheduled for Friday, attention turns to Saturday’s penultimate stage, which finishes on the summit of the Bola del Mundo and is likely to decide the final general classification places.

Stage 18 placings were led by Ganna, followed by Jay Vine, Joao Almeida, Bruno Armirail, Ivo Oliveira, Stefan Küng, Kelland O'Brien, Alec Segaert, Jonas Vingegaard and Daan Hoole. On the overall leaderboard after stage 18, Vingegaard leads with a total time of 65 hours 7 minutes 13 seconds, Almeida sits 40 seconds behind, and Pidcock is third at 2 minutes 39 seconds back. Jai Hindley is fourth at 3:18, followed by Giulio Pellizzari, Matthew Riccitello, Felix Gall, Sepp Kuss, Torstein Træen and Matteo Jorgenson in the top 10.

Organisers said the decision to shorten the time trial was made to ensure "greater protection" for the riders amid the demonstrations. The Vuelta, one of cycling’s three Grand Tours, has seen several stages affected by off‑road events in recent days, prompting heightened security and close coordination with local authorities.

With the GC race still unsettled, teams and leaders will approach the remaining stages mindful of both the terrain and the security measures that have altered race operations this week. The relatively flat Friday stage offers limited opportunities for major shifts among the favourites, while the climbing finale on the Bola del Mundo presents the most decisive terrain left on the 2025 Vuelta route.