"Believe in him" - Delgado warns Vingegaard about Almeida after Angliru defeat

Perico Delgado, commentator for RTVE, broke down what unfolded on the Angliru stage of the 2025 Vuelta a España, where João Almeida stunned the peloton by defeating Jonas Vingegaard. For Delgado, the Portuguese rider’s triumph changed the entire dynamic of the race.

"The race is more alive than ever because we were all expecting that devastating attack from double Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard, and instead we saw a very strong Joao Almeida, trying to put that brilliant red jersey in trouble," he said.

The 1988 Tour de France winner stressed that Almeida’s success over Vingegaard proved the general classification was wide open and far from decided. "The race has really picked up an interesting pace, the big favorite is still the Dane, but the Portuguese has taken another step to believe in him, to make it difficult for Jonas Vingegaard."

Delgado praised the drama of the Angliru stage itself, pointing to the way it evolved from long flat roads to an unrelenting series of climbs that broke many riders. "The stage was sensational. A lot of struggle at the beginning on the flat terrain, the first 120 kilometers and then came the chain of the Mozqueta, the Cordal and the Angliru and the race was frenetic."

What impressed him most was the intensity of the racing and the complete exhaustion etched on riders’ faces at the finish. "Visma was controlling the numerous breakaway giving clear signs that Vingegaard wanted to win on the Angliru. He couldn't. It was an agonizing stage for everyone. It's been a long time since I've seen riders arrive so fatigued."

Looking ahead, Delgado closed his analysis of stage 13 by turning his attention to the following day’s showdown at La Farrapona, stressing the lingering impact of the Angliru. "In the Farrapona the recovery is going to be key because again the favorites are going to be there fighting to improve their classification."