“Finishing in the top ten” – Vuelta leader Traeen sets targets for next two weeks

Week two of the Vuelta a España 2025 begins with Torstein Træen still in the red jersey, despite Jonas Vingegaard’s two stage wins and status as the overwhelming favorite for overall victory. On Monday’s rest day, the Bahrain – Victorious rider reflected on his situation, acknowledging both the challenge ahead and the support around him. Overall, however, he is thoroughly enjoying his stint in the red jersey.

“The goal is, of course, to keep the leader's jersey for another day, but whether that will actually happen remains to be seen. Hopefully, my legs will be better than they were on Sunday. If it doesn't work out, that's just the way it is. Then I'll set my sights on a good final classification: finishing in the top ten would be nice,” Træen told the press.

He added: “I have 37 seconds left. When you're in the lead, you have more control over things. We're lucky to have an experienced rider like Jack Haig on the team: he's been on the final podium himself, worked with many other good riders, and so knows exactly what to do.”

Træen also praised the help around him. “He's only at 70 percent of his capacity, but he's still very valuable. We also have four debutants with us, and it's a great experience for them too. With Santiago Buitrago and Antonio Tiberi, I also have two world-class riders at my side, for which I am very grateful.”

The Norwegian held onto red on stage 9, even as Vingegaard powered to victory. “At the end of the climb I was thinking I will not be in the red jersey, so I’m obviously quite happy that I got some help and managed to hold on,” Træen admitted after the stage. “I didn’t expect [Jonas Vingegaard] to be that fast. He went really fast when he attacked, and then it was just about surviving basically.” He added an intriguing detail: “At one point, I got help from two Visma guys. So it felt a bit like maybe they didn’t want Jonas to have the jersey yet.”

Haig, meanwhile, revealed his struggles in a social media post. “Back to face masks and solo dinners,” he wrote on Instagram. “Since stage 7, I've been struggling with an illness that's lasting longer than I'd like. I've been trying to stay positive and support Torstein. I don't know what the next few days will bring, but I'm hoping for better health.”

And Haijg isn’t the only Bahrain – Victorious rider to be enduring a sub-optimal Vuelta. Antonio Tiberi has also had his difficulties, telling Bici.Pro: “I had a little nausea, a slight fever, and fatigue. Still, I stayed at high altitude, and maybe I shouldn't have done that because recovery at altitude is less easy. That could also have played a role.”

On the rest day he continued to feel below par. “Even on the rest day, during a bike ride, I didn't feel quite myself. I had the feeling that my body was asking me to slow down a bit. I no longer have to think about the GC and everything that goes with it. The daily stress of recovering as much as possible and paying attention to everything in the race is gone. In that respect, I can have more peace of mind.”

Still, the Italian remains optimistic for later in the race. “Maybe it can help me regain some energy between now and the final week, which is still a while away. The goal is to feel good again and get good results so that I can afford to break away and win a stage.”