ANALYSIS | João Almeida's win over Vingegaard on the Angliru continues a crazy Vuelta a Espana stat

The Alto de l’Angliru once again lived up to its fearsome reputation on Friday’s Vuelta a Espana stage 13. Joao Almeida stunned Jonas Vingegaard to take victory on the iconic Asturian climb, and in doing so, the Portuguese rider extended one of the strangest statistical streaks in modern cycling. According to Cycling Statistics, every single time the Vuelta a España has tackled the Angliru, the race leader on the day has failed to win. Thanks to Joao Almeida that rule held firm once again in 2025.

This was the biggest win of Almeida’s career to date, there is no doubt about that. For a long time he has been seen as one of the world’s best climbers, and a potential GC podium threat. Today, he elevated himself into the elite category. Jonas Vingegaard has a problem on his hands, and Almeida is keeping the fight for red alive.

Almeida was not only celebrating his own win, but reflecting on how his rival had chosen to ride. “I was waiting for an attack anytime,” Almeida admitted after crossing the line first. “I was surprised with Jonas’ conservativism in the showdown.” Those words summed up the surprise felt by many in the peloton and by fans who had expected the Dane to go on the offensive on one of the toughest climbs in professional cycling. But maybe, Vingegaard simply couldn’t attack.

The Angliru is cycling’s great equalizer, a brutal wall of asphalt that strips away any illusion of comfort for even the strongest climbers. Its maximum gradients tilt toward 25%, while the final six kilometers average over 13%. Over two decades of history at the Vuelta, the climb has consistently defied those who carry the leader’s jersey into its slopes. Vingegaard became the latest to learn the lesson. Despite arriving in red after 2 victories in the race so far, he could not match Almeida’s finishing kick and had to settle for second.

“Win? You’ll have to beat Jonas,” Joao Almeida had said a day earlier, acknowledging the weight of expectation on Vingegaard’s shoulders. “That will be a tough task. Hopefully, I have good legs.” He backed up that statement on the hardest road of them all, and defeated the two time Tour de France champion. His victory is now written into the Angliru’s lore, alongside a roll call of riders who have shown that being the race leader is more curse than blessing on its slopes.

The numbers are striking. In 1999, Abraham Olano wore red but finished only fifth on the Angliru. The following year, Robert Heras placed third, unable to seal the climb despite his reputation as one of the best in the mountains. Oscar Sevilla’s 11th place in 2002 continued the trend, while Egoi Martínez faded to 23rd in 2008. Even all-time greats have been humbled here: Chris Froome could manage only third in 2017, Chris Horner came second in 2013, Bradley Wiggins was fifth in 2011, and Primoz Roglic ended up fifth in 2020. When Sepp Kuss wore red in 2023, he crossed the line third. Now in 2025, Jonas Vingegaard has finished second.

Each edition reinforces the same conclusion: no matter how dominant, the man in red has never conquered the Angliru itself. The pattern demonstrates more than coincidence, it shows just how punishing and unpredictable the climb is.

The tactical dynamic highlighted another truth of the Angliru: timing matters as much as raw power. Many leaders have approached the climb wary of overextending themselves, especially with days still to come in the Vuelta. But that caution has cost them the chance to etch their names into the Angliru’s history. Almeida’s victory shows that boldness, not conservatism, is often rewarded. But will he pay for that effort in the coming days?

For Vingegaard, finishing second still protected his general classification ambitions. He remains in control of the red jersey, but his fans left the mountain with questions about his choices. Why did he not attack? Could he have changed the outcome with a more aggressive approach? In the moment, Almeida proved that waiting for the inevitable attack can be the right move if the attack never arrives.

Riders who have won here, Roberto Heras in 2002, Alberto Contador in 2008, Primoz Roglic in 2023, are among the true legends of our sport, and Almeida has written his name amonstg the greats in Angliru. His victory will be remembered not only because it came against Vingegaard, but because it extended the stat that defines the climb’s role in Vuelta history. But really, it was the day the Portuguese rider announced himself as elite.

Do you think Vingegaard chose not to attack, or did Almeida’s pace simply exhaust him? And can Almeida take the red jersey from Vingegaard in the coming days? Let us know in the comments below.