"Remember: this isn’t even the best version of Vingegaard. He admitted he was sick!" — Johan Bruyneel says UAE can have no complaints as 'best rider won' La Vuelta

Jonas Vingegaard secured the GC win at the 2025 Vuelta a Espana on Saturday in style, seeing off the challenge of Joao Almeida to claim stage 20 solo atop the mythical Bola del Mundo.

For the final time in La Vuelta, Vingegaard showed why he’s the strongest rider in the race. The result wasn’t just a victory — it was a statement, even as the Dane admitted he wasn’t fully fit. Johan Bruyneel cut straight to the point on The Move afterwards: “The best rider won. Simple as that.”

The drama of the stage centred on UAE Team Emirates - XRG’ tactical push. Bruyneel laid it out bluntly: “For the first time this Vuelta, UAE really did what they should: rode as a unit with one goal, to make the race hard for Joao Almeida. Tactically, they were perfect. But if your leader doesn’t have the legs, strategy doesn’t matter. Almeida tried to pace it in the final three kilometres, but he couldn’t do the damage. They weren’t wrong to try. Before today, Jonas hadn’t dominated except that one big attack earlier in the race. On paper, Almeida and Vingegaard looked fairly even. If Jonas was still feeling sick, maybe they could have cracked him. It was a gamble worth taking.”

Martin echoed the sentiment, highlighting the raw strength Vingegaard displayed: “When you look at the numbers and the effort, Jonas didn’t even have to go full. He was sick, yes, but his power on the climb was untouchable. Almeida just didn’t have the legs to respond.”

Bruyneel emphasized Visma’s control: “Visma had the best day. They won the stage, won the overall, and barely had to work because UAE did all the pacing. And all the debates we’ve had about bonus seconds? Irrelevant. In the end, it wasn’t about seconds — it was about legs. Jonas was simply stronger.”

Even with a compromised condition, Vingegaard’s dominance was clear. “Remember: this isn’t even the best version of Vingegaard. He admitted he was sick, which makes you wonder. But even at less than 100 percent, he was more than good enough to win the Vuelta,” Bruyneel added.

Martin turned to the broader picture of the race: “The story isn’t just this stage — it’s the consistency. From the mountains to the time trials, Jonas has been impeccable. UAE could execute every tactic perfectly, but it wouldn’t have mattered. The strongest rider won, end of story.”

Vingegaard’s third Grand Tour win cements his status among the era’s elite and reinforces the uneasy reality facing challengers: the very top of the sport is increasingly consolidated. For Visma it’s affirmation; for UAE, the consolation is in execution rather than outcome. For neutral fans, Stage 20 was a stark reminder that Grand Tours — at their rawest — still reward repeated, reliable excellence over tactical theatre.