OFFICIAL Final Standings: stage abandons, Team ANSEL Win!
Laurens De Jong
Hello, Vuelta a España Gamers!
As I more or less expected, there was no stage 21. No final bunch sprint to analyze. Lots of questions to answer about how to score the game. I’ll talk about that below the break.
As far as race analysis, though, I kept a little in reserve. We don’t have to go cold turkey. Two observations from stage 20 that I had not shared.
One: the man of the race for me was Matthew Riccotelli. He finished sixth in the stage, getting full benefit from Giulio’s Pellizzari’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. That looks good on paper, but watch the race again and it becomes magnificent. The number of times he came back from nowhere after dropping out of the lead group is incredible. I bet if I go back it’s only twice, it just felt like he was getting dropped several times and kept coming back.
He's 23, this is easily his best grand tour. Along with Sepp Kuss and Matteo Jorgenson, he’s one of three American riders in the top ten of the general classification of the 2025 Vuelta a España. I will never understand where all these good American riders come from. USA Cycling’s youth program, or any of their programs, are not stellar. Yet here we are with another promising star representing the red, white, and blue.
And I’ll admit to feeling a little gleeful that after all the chaos, a man from Israel – Premier Tech would be on the podium in Madrid. But the activists’ grudge against the peloton is so great, they wouldn’t even allow him that little pleasure. But okay.
Two: if you watch that stage 20 again, then find the moment in the race we knew Jonas Vingegaard had won the Vuelta. We know the moment he won the stage, but he had won the Vuelta five, six kilometers earlier.
Remember this. UAE Team Emirates – XRG had worked all day to harden the race. For João Almeida to attack and crack Vingegaard. Question: can you crack Vingegaard in a 3.5-kilometer climb, no matter how steep? Anwer: no. You can’t.
When Almeida’s attack failed to appear for kilometer after kilometer on the climb to Puerto de Navacerrada, we knew he had lost the Vuelta. I knew it, he knew it, Almeida knew it. You attack as late as possible, but before the others. Almeida’s attack had to come with ten kilometers to go, or it would not succeed.
Why he didn’t try, I have no idea. This goes back to another unanswered question: that intermediate sprint in stage 19, where UAE gifted four seconds to Vingegaard. Did they not race because they were certain Almeida would win on Saturday, anyway? Or because they were certain Almeida wouldn’t win, anyway. Looking back, perhaps it was a lack of confidence in their leader. It remains the only explanation for UAE’s poor team riding in the 2025 Vuelta a España.
This season I have picked on UAE Team Emirates – XRG a lot. Understandable, their cohesion as a team is inexplicable. Decisions made that I just don’t understand. For example: UAE had a more effective team in the Grand Prix in Québec and Montréal (in support of Tadej Pogačar) than they had in the Giro or the Vuelta. And today they won, Pogačar gifting the victory in Montréal to Brandon McNulty (another American). It tied the record for team victories in a season with 2009’s Team Columbia – HTC. They both have 85, but the season isn’t over. The 2025 UAE team will be the most successful team in cycling history.
So my point is: it isn’t all bad in UAE. Case in point, our only-one-team-picked-him focus rider of the day: Domen Novak. Picked by Team Kate.
He finished 144th out of 153. His best finish was 48th, in the shortened stage 16. Had that stage gone to the finish, he would have been in the mid-100’s, where he normally finishes. I’m looking at his 2025 results and I really don’t see any finish in the top-100. The only two wins as a pro cyclist were the Slovenian national championship road races in 2019 and in 2024.
Not a great career. To the uninitiated, it would be hard to explain why he’s a ten-year pro cyclist. With a contract with the best team in cycling for another three years. The Vuelta was the sixth stage race of the year.
Six stage races, racing for the best team in cycling in 2025. That means he’s doing his job.
Invisible to us, but he’s his own superstar in what he does. I’ve seen him leading the peloton a couple of times, but never enough to single him out. What he does even better is ride for his team in the peloton. Always keeping his team leader safe, perhaps getting bottles, perhaps ready to give up his bike if needed.
Domen Novak is one of the best team players in cycling today. He’s earned Team Kate zero points in the 2025 Vuelta a España. Cycling is a team sport.
It wasn’t easy to calculate the points today. There were no stage results. After stage 11, the organizers scored everyone the rare “DF” — did finish. But today, the stage was canceled. No results. As if the stage was never planned.
In the dramatic 1998 Tour de France, riders refused to race stage 17. Pro Cycling Stats has (retroactively) scored everyone “NR”, equally rare, for Not Ranked. Except for the seventeen riders who were scored DNF. Those were the riders who left the 1998 Tour to avoid further doping controls — this was the year of the Festina (EPO doping) Affair.
Stage 16 of the 1989 Giro d’Italia, through the Italian Dolomites, was canceled because of the weather. Everyone was scored “DF” that day. A stage that happened even though it didn’t happen.
A few stages have disappeared like today’s. In 1978, the riders refused to race stage 12a of the Tour de France. That year there were 22 stages, plus a prologue, plus two days with a/b stages. So really, there were 25 stages. The riders thought that was too much, so they didn’t start stage 12a. No results from that stage, it’s as if it never happened. Like today.
The same for 1982, when farmers blocked the road during stage 5, the team time trial. No results, no stage 5. Like today.
Today’s stage is not without precedent. But in 1978, and in 1982, I wasn’t running the AAVC Grand Tour game. In 2025, I have to make a decision without the benefit of precedence. In the Game Rules it literally says: “If something crazy happens, I'll make a ruling.”
Well, I’ll make a ruling. Stage 21 is canceled, the 2025 Vuelta a España consists of 20 stages. Stage 20 scored points and from there we go straight to the Final Standings points.
My ruling has consequences for our AAVC Juniors Game. The cancellation of stage 21 was always going to have consequences. With my ruling in place, Team Ansel win the 2025 AAVC Vuelta a España Game.
Congratulations to Team Ansel and commiserations to runners-up Team Charles. If it’s any consolation, the 2-point margin is the smallest in the history of the AAVC Juniors Grand Tour Game. And if I had counted stage 21, then Team Charles would be the winners by 2 points as well. Either way, the results from this game are historic. Both Team Ansel and Team Charles had ten riders in the Top-25 of the General Classification.
Team Dominic secured third place, and they scored the most points in the Final Standings.
Team Hugo ended this game in fourth. Team Samuel in fifth and Team Tadej in sixth. Both jump over Team Josh who dropped to seventh.
The others remain were they were after Stage 20: Team Grace in eighth, Team Amalia in ninth, Team Sam in tenth, Team Will in eleventh, Team Liz in twelfth, and Team Sylvia in thirteenth.
I want to thank everyone for playing. Especially the record thirteen juniors. This is the last year for Team Ansel and at least one of the Australian teams. I don’t remember if it’s Team Hugo or Team Charles, but one of them I believe will be 18 when the Giro d’Italia rolls around in May of 2026.
Which means I am counting on everyone to recruit more juniors from around the world. There’s no reason why our record of thirteen should stand in 2026. Let’s all play the 2026 AAVC Grand Tour Games:
May 3 – 10 Vuelta a España Femenina
May 9 – 29 Giro d’Italia
May 30 – June 7 Giro d’Italia Women
July 4 – 24 Tour de France
August 1 – 8 Tour de France Femmes
August 22 – September 11 Vuelta a España
I am glad I returned in 2025 to run a few of the grand tour games. I do not regret skipping the grand tours that I was on vacation. I’ll do the same in 2026. If I’m on vacation, no game. If not, let’s all play! See you in 2026.
Final Standings:
|
Rank |
Name |
Points |
WAS |
MOVES |
|
1 |
Team Ansel* |
4034 |
1 |
0 |
|
2 |
Team Charles* |
4032 |
2 |
0 |
|
3 |
Team Dominic* |
3999 |
3 |
0 |
|
4 |
Team Hugo* |
3792 |
4 |
0 |
|
5 |
Team Samuel* |
3786 |
6 |
1 |
|
6 |
Team Tadej* |
3773 |
7 |
1 |
|
7 |
Team Josh* |
3764 |
5 |
-2 |
|
8 |
Team Grace* |
3677 |
8 |
0 |
|
9 |
Team Amalia* |
3561 |
9 |
0 |
|
10 |
Team Sam* |
3105 |
10 |
0 |
|
11 |
Team Will* |
3092 |
11 |
0 |
|
12 |
Team Liz* |
2701 |
12 |
0 |
|
13 |
Team Sylvia* |
2676 |
13 |
0 |
Final Standings (including adults):
|
Rank |
Name |
Points |
WAS |
MOVES |
|
1 |
Team Kari |
4466 |
1 |
0 |
|
2 |
Team Kent |
4315 |
2 |
0 |
|
3 |
Team Craig |
4225 |
3 |
0 |
|
4 |
Team Ansel* |
4034 |
4 |
0 |
|
5 |
Team Charles* |
4032 |
5 |
0 |
|
6 |
Team Dominic* |
3999 |
8 |
2 |
|
7 |
Team Chuck |
3991 |
6 |
-1 |
|
8 |
Team Mitchinson |
3986 |
6 |
-2 |
|
9 |
Team Feng |
3977 |
9 |
0 |
|
10 |
Team Corsa |
3876 |
10 |
0 |
|
11 |
Team Adam |
3824 |
12 |
1 |
|
12 |
Team Hugo* |
3792 |
11 |
-1 |
|
13 |
Team Samuel* |
3786 |
14 |
1 |
|
14 |
Team Tadej* |
3773 |
15 |
1 |
|
15 |
Team Josh* |
3764 |
13 |
-2 |
|
16 |
Team Corey |
3688 |
18 |
2 |
|
17 |
Team Grace* |
3677 |
17 |
0 |
|
18 |
Team Amelia |
3629 |
16 |
-2 |
|
19 |
Team Laurens |
3574 |
19 |
0 |
|
20 |
Team Amalia* |
3561 |
20 |
0 |
|
21 |
Team Julie |
3497 |
21 |
0 |
|
22 |
Team Rob |
3442 |
22 |
0 |
|
23 |
Team Jonwaine |
3388 |
23 |
0 |
|
24 |
Team Joe |
3353 |
24 |
0 |
|
25 |
Team Wes |
3246 |
25 |
0 |
|
26 |
Team John |
3215 |
26 |
0 |
|
27 |
Team Sam* |
3105 |
27 |
0 |
|
28 |
Team Will* |
3092 |
28 |
0 |
|
29 |
Team JB |
2846 |
29 |
0 |
|
30 |
Team Doug |
2709 |
31 |
1 |
|
31 |
Team Liz* |
2701 |
30 |
-1 |
|
32 |
Team Sylvia* |
2676 |
32 |
0 |
|
33 |
Team Kate |
1213 |
33 |
0 |
Complete breakdown of points:
|
Name |
STAGE RESULTS |
RED JERSEY |
GREEN JERSEY |
POLKA DOT JERSEY |
WHITE JERSEY |
POINTS/CLASS |
TOTAL |
PREVIOUS |
CUM. TOTAL |
|
Team Amalia* |
346 |
0 |
16 |
12 |
0 |
28 |
374 |
3187 |
3561 |
|
Team Ansel* |
360 |
0 |
26 |
22 |
0 |
48 |
408 |
3626 |
4034 |
|
Team Charles* |
382 |
0 |
26 |
12 |
0 |
38 |
420 |
3612 |
4032 |
|
Team Dominic* |
388 |
0 |
26 |
12 |
0 |
38 |
426 |
3573 |
3999 |
|
Team Grace* |
352 |
0 |
16 |
22 |
0 |
38 |
390 |
3287 |
3677 |
|
Team Hugo* |
296 |
0 |
26 |
22 |
0 |
48 |
344 |
3448 |
3792 |
|
Team Josh* |
310 |
0 |
26 |
22 |
0 |
48 |
358 |
3406 |
3764 |
|
Team Liz* |
222 |
0 |
20 |
22 |
0 |
42 |
264 |
2437 |
2701 |
|
Team Sam* |
262 |
0 |
25 |
22 |
0 |
47 |
309 |
2796 |
3105 |
|
Team Samuel* |
336 |
0 |
25 |
22 |
0 |
47 |
383 |
3403 |
3786 |
|
Team Sylvia* |
252 |
0 |
10 |
22 |
0 |
32 |
284 |
2392 |
2676 |
|
Team Tadej* |
346 |
0 |
26 |
12 |
7 |
45 |
391 |
3382 |
3773 |
|
Team Will* |
354 |
0 |
10 |
12 |
0 |
22 |
376 |
2716 |
3092 |
Complete breakdown of points (including adults):
|
362 |
0 |
16 |
12 |
0 |
28 |
390 |
3434 |
3824 |
|
|
Team Amalia* |
346 |
0 |
16 |
12 |
0 |
28 |
374 |
3187 |
3561 |
|
Team Amelia |
272 |
0 |
26 |
22 |
0 |
48 |
320 |
3309 |
3629 |
|
Team Ansel* |
360 |
0 |
26 |
22 |
0 |
48 |
408 |
3626 |
4034 |
|
Team Charles* |
382 |
0 |
26 |
12 |
0 |
38 |
420 |
3612 |
4032 |
|
Team Chuck |
358 |
0 |
25 |
22 |
0 |
47 |
405 |
3586 |
3991 |
|
Team Corey |
372 |
0 |
11 |
22 |
0 |
33 |
405 |
3283 |
3688 |
|
Team Corsa |
352 |
0 |
26 |
12 |
0 |
38 |
390 |
3486 |
3876 |
|
Team Craig |
402 |
0 |
26 |
12 |
7 |
45 |
447 |
3778 |
4225 |
|
Team Dominic* |
388 |
0 |
26 |
12 |
0 |
38 |
426 |
3573 |
3999 |
|
Team Doug |
256 |
0 |
22 |
7 |
0 |
29 |
285 |
2424 |
2709 |
|
Team Feng |
392 |
0 |
26 |
12 |
0 |
38 |
430 |
3547 |
3977 |
|
Team Grace* |
352 |
0 |
16 |
22 |
0 |
38 |
390 |
3287 |
3677 |
|
Team Hugo* |
296 |
0 |
26 |
22 |
0 |
48 |
344 |
3448 |
3792 |
|
Team JB |
316 |
0 |
11 |
12 |
0 |
23 |
339 |
2507 |
2846 |
|
Team Joe |
286 |
0 |
26 |
22 |
0 |
48 |
334 |
3019 |
3353 |
|
Team John |
270 |
0 |
25 |
12 |
0 |
37 |
307 |
2908 |
3215 |
|
Team Jonwaine |
304 |
0 |
22 |
17 |
0 |
39 |
343 |
3045 |
3388 |
|
Team Josh* |
310 |
0 |
26 |
22 |
0 |
48 |
358 |
3406 |
3764 |
|
Team Julie |
324 |
0 |
25 |
22 |
0 |
47 |
371 |
3126 |
3497 |
|
Team Kari |
454 |
0 |
26 |
12 |
7 |
45 |
499 |
3967 |
4466 |
|
Team Kate |
132 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
132 |
1081 |
1213 |
|
Team Kent |
384 |
0 |
26 |
22 |
7 |
55 |
439 |
3876 |
4315 |
|
Team Laurens |
332 |
0 |
26 |
12 |
0 |
38 |
370 |
3204 |
3574 |
|
Team Liz* |
222 |
0 |
20 |
22 |
0 |
42 |
264 |
2437 |
2701 |
|
Team Mitchinson |
352 |
0 |
26 |
22 |
0 |
48 |
400 |
3586 |
3986 |
|
Team Rob |
324 |
0 |
26 |
12 |
7 |
45 |
369 |
3073 |
3442 |
|
Team Sam* |
262 |
0 |
25 |
22 |
0 |
47 |
309 |
2796 |
3105 |
|
Team Samuel* |
336 |
0 |
25 |
22 |
0 |
47 |
383 |
3403 |
3786 |
|
Team Sylvia* |
252 |
0 |
10 |
22 |
0 |
32 |
284 |
2392 |
2676 |
|
Team Tadej* |
346 |
0 |
26 |
12 |
7 |
45 |
391 |
3382 |
3773 |
|
Team Wes |
286 |
0 |
16 |
22 |
0 |
38 |
324 |
2922 |
3246 |
|
Team Will* |
354 |
0 |
10 |
12 |
0 |
22 |
376 |
2716 |
3092 |
-Laurens.