TIME TRIAL SPECIALIST! ⏱ | 2025 Men’s La Vuelta Stage 18 Race Highlights | TNT Sports Cycling

2025 Men’s La Vuelta Stage 18 Race Highlights.

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[Music] Welcome to highlights of stage 18 of the Va Espña. An individual town trial of 12.2 km in and around the city of Bayoy. The stage shortened by organizers to ensure the rider safety in the light of continued demonstrations. All of the big TT specialists ready for action, including Pipo Ghana. Well, this is the course on offer. 12.2ks completely flat. Quite a technical opening few kilometers and then essentially a big out and back on main roads with very little technical difficulties. As you can see there, hardly any elevation gain at all. One of the big favorites at the start was Dan Oler of Little Trek, the Dutch TT champion. set very fast times out on course, although did get it wrong. He thought this was the left turn on the dog leg. In fact, he had another couple of KS to continue. So, an error there, but it didn’t stop him from setting the fastest time by quite a margin in the end. The clock stopping at 1319. Shortly after the Dutchman was Philip Oogan of the Inos Grenaders, the Italian champion, double world champion, thundering round the course. Although he was slightly slower in the opening kilometers, as you can see at 4ks, he was 3 seconds slower. But on the second part of the circuit, he really got into his own, thundering down, catching his minute man, and was 11 seconds quick. Ultimately though, as he romped down the finishing straight, it was to be a ferocious time that was set. 19 seconds quicker than Oola, 56.2 km an hour for the former world champion Mads Pedison. The man in the green jersey suffered out on the road on stage 17, but looked to be back near his best out on course and set the fastest intermediate split and still at intermediate two was the fastest out on the road, but faded on the run into the line and ended up finishing 21 seconds slower, but good enough for third at that point. Evo Olivera was off the ramp, a specialist at the TT, a decorated track rider too, and was moving very quickly. 4 seconds down at the first intermediate split, but it was to be a very respectable time by the former Portuguese TT champion, stopping the clock at 11 seconds shy, good enough for second at that point. Stefan Kung was also looking good, focused and ready. The former European TT champion opened up the taps very very early on and wasn’t too far down. In fact, fastest time was sharing the fastest time at the first intermediate split and then was the fastest at the second but again faded on the run into the line and could not quite match the time set by Ghana 12 seconds slower than the Italian. Jvine was to have a superb day. Two stage wins to the good. The man in the polka dot jersey can’t only climb, he can time trail with the best as well. Very quick at the intermediate split there. 6 seconds quicker than Philip Oogan and Stefan Kung, but closing in. It was It was nearly going to be an upset, but less than 1 second separated Vine and Ghana. The upset didn’t quite happen and Philip Oana was still looking good in the hot seat. But what a time that was set by the former Australian TT champion. Another champion was on the ramp and that was Bruno Amiral of Decathlon AG2R had a very solid performance. He crossed the line with a 1310, good enough for third place, 55.5ks an hour. Matthew Ricatello was also on a very very good day. The young American from the Israel Premier Techch team was looking to move up the general classification. The clock stopped for him at 36 seconds slower than Ghana. But importantly with the time of Felix Gal was to move him up one place on the general classification at the expense of the Austrian Ji Hindley started the GC day in fourth position was looking to try and make inroads into Tom Pigcock eyeing that podium spot and in the end it was a superb time by Ji Hindley the clock stopping at 32 seconds slower 1332 for the Australian. Next up though was Tom Pigcock. A good time set by Hindley, the jural winner, eyeing that third place. But what did this man have in the tank? Remember Tom Peek, a former junior world TT champion, but this was to be one of the performances of his life at this level. The clock stopped for the Englishman at 29 seconds slow, but good enough to beat Ji Hindley importantly by 3 seconds. Ja Ma then focused, ready in the form of his life. The former Portuguese TT champion set off like a rocket and was already going quicker than a lot of the riders out there. As you can see, very quick at the intermediate split, not quite as quick as his teammate Jay Vine, but still looking devastatingly fast. And he headed into the finishing straight. The clock was to stop for the Portuguese rider at 8 seconds shy, 55.7 ks an hour, a 1308. Yonasfinger looking to defend red set off very quickly. We know how well this man can go in an individual time trial. Was beaten at the Tour to France earlier this year by Xiao Almeida. What was the result to be today? Such a slender lead relatively speaking after nearly 3 weeks of racing. But Vingigo put up a performance, but it wasn’t to be as quick as Xiao Almeida. Still inside the top 10 though, ninth with a 1318. So it’s all smiles for Philippo Gamma. So still defending his lead. It has been shortened somewhat. We’ll look at the GC in a moment. But what a day for Philip Oogana. The last time we had a time trial on these streets. Ghana won two years ago and he wins again today. So Philip Oogana took the stage 13 dead ahead of Jvine 1 second behind. And then we have Almea, Amarai, Olivera Kung, O’Brien, Seot, Fingo, and I think I suffer more in this last three hours in the in the state comparing the bike. The first part I didn’t find the correct rhythm and uh then in the final uh I tried to push over without thinking the number, without finger nothing. So I’m really happy for today. Uh this last week it started really well for us and uh it’s not done for sure. Uh we have another days in front and we try to do all the best for for us. Three stage wins then for the in grenaders but the situation at the top of the general classification. Xiao made us narrowed the gap to Jonas Vingo. It’s now 40 seconds. Pigcock extends his lead over Ji Hindi who sits still in fourth place. So all to play for over the next couple of days and another day in red for Yonas Vingo, but it’s closely matched at the top. So let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for stage 19. Starting in Roda, heading to Guello over 161.9Ks. A rolling day. No King of the Mountains classification, but an intermediate sprint at 103ks. And then a long drag to the line. One for the punchy sprinters or maybe a day for the breakaway.