Portuguese rider Joao Almeida climbed to victory in the 'queen' Stage 13 of the Vuelta a España 2025 on Friday, just ahead of Danish race leader Jonas Vingegaard, as repeated roadside pro-Palestinian protests continued to upset the peloton.

Almeida pipped Vingegaard on the line, with Australian Jai Hindley crossing in third place, 28 seconds off the pace after the 202.7-kilometer run between Cabezon de la Sal and the Angliru climb, a steep mountain road in Asturias in northern Spain.

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Visma-Lease a Bike rider Vingegaard leads Team UAE's Almeida by 46 seconds in the overall standings, with Britain's Tom Pidcock of Q36.5 third at 2 minutes, 18 seconds.

"I was on the limit, I think we both were," Almeida said. "I was ready for him to attack me at any moment. I thought he was going to pass me before the finish, but I know the line well from that finish two years ago.

"I knew I had to be first at the last corner, and since he didn't pass me, it was good. The Angliru is the hardest climb I've ever done, it's really crazy."

The race once again was targeted by pro-Palestinian protestors aimed at the Israel-Premier Tech team.

Some 12 kilometres from the finish, as the climb to Angliru began, several protesters waving Palestinian flags interrupted the lead riders.

The stoppage, which lasted a few seconds until security forces intervened, affected the progress of the breakaway riders -- Ecuadorian Jefferson Cepeda, Luxembourger Bob Jungels and Kazakh Nico Vinokurov -- who at that point, had a three-minute lead over the peloton.

"We were slowed down a bit by a demonstration during the race, but that didn't change anything; we knew we would be caught by the best," Vinokourov conceded.

Almeida and Vingegaard pulled ahead with three kilometers left to reach the summit, after shaking off Hindley and American Sepp Kuss.

Vingegaard stayed behind the Portuguese rider for the remainder of the race.

"Joao deserves his victory," said the Dane. "I didn't let him win; I simply couldn't pass him in the final corners." 

The win gives Almeida an opportunity to catch up with Vingegaard.

"Of course, I'm still thinking about winning the Vuelta," said the UAE team leader. "There's still plenty of time to catch Vingegaard, but he looks really phenomenal. It's going to be tough, but we're not going to give up."

The longest stage of this year's race also took its toll on the peloton, with Spaniard Pablo Castrillo, winner of two stages in the last edition, tearfully exiting after a crash on the Alto La Mozqueta descent.

Saturday's stage will be short, covering 135.9 kilometers between Aviles and La Farrapona and featuring two Category 1 climbs, making it ideal for experienced climbers.

Vuelta a España 2025 Stage 13 Results – Top 25

1. Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates XRG) – 04:54:15
2. Jonas Vingegaard Hansen (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – 04:54:15
3. Jai Hindley (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) – 04:54:43
4. Sepp Kuss (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – 04:54:45
5. Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) – 04:55:07
6. Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) – 04:55:26
7. Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) – 04:55:31
8. Matthew Riccitello (Israel - Premier Tech) – 04:55:31
9. Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) – 04:56:30
10. Arthur Balderstone Roumens (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) – 04:57:21
11. Harold Tejada (XDS Astana Team) – 04:57:58
12. Felix Grossschartner (UAE Team Emirates XRG) – 04:57:58
13. William Junior Lecerf (Soudal Quick-Step) – 04:57:58
14. Torstein Træen (Bahrain Victorious) – 04:58:24
15. Guillermo Martinez Huertas (Team Picnic PostNL) – 04:58:41
16. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) – 04:58:47
17. Matteo Jorgenson (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – 04:58:47
18. Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates XRG) – 05:00:27
19. Joan Guardeño Roma (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) – 05:01:02
20. Louis Meintjes (Intermarché - Wanty) – 05:01:02
21. Bob Jungels (INEOS Grenadiers) – 05:01:22
22. Nikita Vinokurov (XDS Astana Team) – 05:01:29
23. Kevin Vermaerke (Team Picnic PostNL) – 05:02:12
24. Jefferson Cepeda (Movistar Team) – 05:02:18
25. Wout Poels (XDS Astana Team) – 05:02:33

Vuelta a España 2025 Overall Standings – Top 25 After Stage 13

1. Jonas Vingegaard Hansen (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – 49:30:54
2. Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates XRG) – 49:31:40
3. Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) – 49:33:12
4. Jai Hindley (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) – 49:33:54
5. Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) – 49:34:09
6. Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) – 49:34:55
7. Matthew Riccitello (Israel - Premier Tech) – 49:35:27
8. Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) – 49:35:48
9. Torstein Træen (Bahrain Victorious) – 49:36:15
10. Sepp Kuss (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – 49:36:20
11. Matteo Jorgenson (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – 49:37:58
12. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) – 49:38:55
13. William Junior Lecerf (Soudal Quick-Step) – 49:39:17
14. Harold Tejada (XDS Astana Team) – 49:40:54
15. Bruno Armirail (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) – 49:42:58
16. Arthur Balderstone Roumens (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) – 49:46:15
17. Louis Meintjes (Intermarché - Wanty) – 49:47:01
18. Harold Lopez Granizo (XDS Astana Team) – 49:47:04
19. Joan Guardeño Roma (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) – 49:48:57
20. Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ) – 49:59:18
21. Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) – 50:02:43
22. Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates XRG) – 50:04:59
23. Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step) – 50:07:27
24. Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana Team) – 50:12:26
25. Marco Frigo (Israel - Premier Tech) – 50:13:16

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