Despite stage 1 win at the 2025 Vuelta a Andalucia, Maxim van Gils has concerns: “UAE has a very strong team here... I am a bit afraid of that"

Maxim van Gils' chances didn't look great heading into the finale of stage 1 at the 2025 Vuelta a Andalucia, outnumbered by UAE Team Emirates - XRG teammates Tim Wellens and Pavel Sivakov. Despite repeated one-two attacks by his rivals though, Van Gils held firm to take the stage win and the race lead in a thrilling finale.

“It was a really tough and hot stage. I think everyone felt it in their legs. No team was able to really control the stage. UAE Team Emirates - XRG is here with several leaders and they also tried to play their cards. So for me it was important to anticipate,” reflects the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe star in his post-stage interview afterwards. “I know Tim quite well. I rode in his team. I know that I am faster in the sprint and so it is important not to let him ride away. I had to try to keep everything together and then gamble on the sprint.”

Van Gils won the reduced, one-stage Vuelta a Andalucia in 2024 but this proper victory must mean a whole lot more to the Belgian. “My victory last year had a bit more prestige, because it was a high-level time trial,” he assesses. “But this victory is also special. I was incredibly motivated before the start, with last year still in the back of my mind. I am very proud of myself.”

Finally, Van Gils attempts to keep his feet firmly rooted to the ground. Despite his stage win and the fact he outfoxed the UAE duo in the finale, Van Gils is well aware of the threat his rival team will continue to pose in the coming days. “UAE has a very strong team here. They will try to play that out in the coming days. I am also a bit afraid of that. I hope that my team can absorb it all,” he concludes.