OFFICIAL Stage 9 Results
Laurens De Jong
Hello, Vuelta a España Gamers!
STAGE Grade: A-
I rate today’s stage an A-. I had low expectations, but Team Visma – Lease-a-Bike deciding to attack João Almeida made the difference. A big surprise, and I call the whole final climb one big sprint (there were many sprints worth watching). The GC wasn’t shaken up all that much, so we’re a few stars short of a solid A.
Route: 3/5 GC: 2/5 Tactics: 4/5 Sprint: 4/5 Surprises: 4/5
Cycling is a team sport. Again. You and I have both lost count of the number of times I’ve pointed out good and bad team tactics. UAE Team Emirates – XRG has mocked the whole idea of team tactics this entire year. I believe they do it because they can win without it. At least that’s what they think. But their anti-team riding ultimately led to my rant after stage 20 of the 2025 Giro d’Italia and, forgive me, I have to rant again after stage 9 of the 2025 Vuelta d’Italia.
Cycling is a team sport. Therefore, Juan Ayuso and Jay Vine, they must stay with their team leader at all times. At all times! Assuming João Almeida came her to win the Vuelta, perhaps that’s where I’ve gone wrong. But assuming that he wants to win: he needs Ayuso and Vine.
None of this “I don’t feel like it, I’m going to drop” business and then win the next day. None of this “we’re in the final climb in Zaragoza, we’re just going to drop off the back and have a social ride the rest of the way” — like Ayuso and Vine did yesterday. I didn’t write about it, but I was seething.
Cycling is a team sport. Jonas Vingegaard did come here to win the Vuelta and he and his team have been riding accordingly all week. Three Team Visma – Lease-a-Bike riders were at the front of the peloton when Matteo Jorgenson put the hammer down. Vingegaard could follow, Ben Tullett plugged the road behind them. Only Giulio Ciccone was able to squeeze past, the rest of the peloton was trapped behind Tullett.
Cycling is a team sport. Vine was sitting there, behind Tullett. His job, his only job all week, is to protect Almeida. His only job. What did he do? I counted ten, ten seconds until he blew. Of course! You can’t win a stage (unnecessarily), then superdomestique for your teammate’s stage win (unnecessarily), and then still domestique even a little bit for your team leader’s position in the general classification (which was your only job, let’s not forget).
By the time Vine realized what was happening, Vingegaard and Ciccone were ten seconds up the road. For the second time this year, UAE lost a grand tour. As if on purpose. As if on purpose, because I can’t justify this in any other way.
Of course, UAE had more riders, they could help Almeida. Marc Soler was there, Felix Großschartner was there. Come on, have a guess, tell me where Soler and Großschartner were when Almeida was fighting to stay in this race. Come on.
If you said “about eight and twenty positions back, respectively,” you are absolutely correct. Look at this, Almeida pulling a group of riders like Egan Bernal and Felix Gall, while Marc Soler was holding the wheel of Jaume Guardeño and Abel Balderstone. Caja Rural riders!
I won’t even mention Ayuso, who dropped out the moment the road started going up. Dropped as if he’s never finished third and fourth in Vueltas past.
UAE’s riding today was yet again a disgrace. I don’t fully understand why they are allowed to hold a racing license, because they’re not racing, that’s for damn sure.
Visma’s attack here was one of the boldest moves I’ve seen. All this talk of “let’s wait until week two, week three.” And then, boom, they go. It was organized, but what we’ll never know is, when did they decide? Yesterday? This morning, in the hotel? Or was it improvised, based on what they saw UAE do?
And it wasn’t a half-hearted attempt, either. Vingegaard just kept going, dropping Ciccone on the way. And, as we now know, going solo for ten more kilometers to the stage win. Almeida, to his absolute credit, limited the damage to just 24 seconds. Gall, Ciccone, and all the other contenders lost a minute and more.
Yesterday was Team Lotto’s masterclass. Today it was Visma. Cycling is a team sport.
To be fair, this team tactic was gifted to Visma by the likes of Lidl-Trek and a little Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team. On the flat part of the course, they were the teams doing all the work. Their approach: deliver success for Giulo Ciccone and Tom Pidcock. Understandable. Another approach is: Vingegaard wants to win this race, let his team do the work. Instead, Visma was given a free ride to the bottom of the climb. It can work either way, although it worked better for Visma in the end today.
I’ll leave you with Almeida’s own comments, after the race: “I maybe missed my teammates a little bit. Nobody was with me in the end today.” Indeed.
Junior Lecerf and Felix Großschartner share the only-one-team-picked-them spotlight today. Both are on Team Julie and theirs was a tale of two riders today. The finished 19th and 20th today, in that order, in the same time. That’s where the similarity ends.
We covered Großschartner’s role already. A good climber, in 2020 and 2021 he finished 9th and 10th in the Vuelta, riding for BORA-Hansgrohe. If you finished in the top ten five years ago and not much since and you’re now 31, then you are not here to win the general classification. You’re here with only one job: to help your team leader. João Almeida. All he had to do today was stay right behind Jonas Vingegaard all day, making sure that Almeida was behind him. Then when Vingegaard accelerates, stay with him for as long as he can. Even if it’s just three pedal strokes. Every little bit helps. Instead, as we know, he was behind Almeida. No use. Finished 20th in the stage and now he’s 64th overall. Why? Why ride like that?
Lecerf, on the other hand, is young: 22. There is no “five years ago” for him, he just joined the World Tour last year. And now he is here to finish twelfth, or ninth, or whatever in the general classification. Outside of Mikel Landa, probably the best general classification rider in the Soudal Quick-Step team.
He was in that peloton when Jorgensen tore it apart, long after Ayuso was dropped. In the end he lost touch with the larger group. But when the finish line was in sight, they were three: Lecerf, Großschartner, and Ramses Debruyne. Two of those riders sprinted for 18th place. One of them did not.
I didn’t pick either Großschartner or Lecerf on my team. But I like one of them much more than the other.
Watch the final kilometer HERE.
Watch the official La Vuelta highlights HERE.
Watch the extended NBC Sports highlights HERE.
Read the TNT Sports report HERE.
It came together for Team Amalia today: big points from Lorenzo Fortunato and Marc Soler. Most points from the stage, most points overall, and most riders in the Top-25 (eleven). They move into sixth in the standings.
Second were Team Charles, enough to take second place. Tied for third were Team Ansel and Team Tadej, with most points from classifications. Team Ansel drop to third, Team Tadej go up to fifth.
Team Dominic was right there too, in fifth — enough to hold on to fourth. Then Team Hugo in sixth, still in the lead, and Team Grace in seventh, they’re now eighth in the standings.
A small gap and then two teams close together: Team Josh in eighth and Team Samuel in ninth. They’re now seventh and ninth, respectively.
A little further back were Team Will, tenth today and eleventh overall.
Three teams missed the boat: Team Sam in eleventh, they remain tenth. Team Sylvia in twelfth, still thirteenth. And Team Liz in thirteenth, they drop to twelfth.
Monday is a rest day for the peloton, and on Tuesday we’ll have a stage similar to today’s. Some Spanish flat, and then a climb to the snow. It’s not quite a ski resort, they only have snow shoeing and cross country in Larra-Belagua, and no lifts. But otherwise, very similar to Sunday.
Today’s climb kept getting flatter and that’s true on Tuesday as well. But it’s also steeper, and for longer. Seven kilometers over 7%. There’s no need for Visma to attack again, although you never know. The way Juan Ayuso was dropping back today, though, I wonder. It would not surprise me but it would disappoint me if he won on Tuesday.
Standings after stage 9:
|
Rank |
Name |
Points |
WAS |
MOVES |
|
1 |
Team Hugo* |
1613 |
1 |
0 |
|
2 |
Team Charles* |
1584 |
3 |
1 |
|
3 |
Team Ansel* |
1579 |
2 |
-1 |
|
4 |
Team Dominic* |
1526 |
4 |
0 |
|
5 |
Team Tadej* |
1485 |
6 |
1 |
|
6 |
Team Amalia* |
1481 |
8 |
2 |
|
7 |
Team Josh* |
1471 |
5 |
-2 |
|
8 |
Team Grace* |
1458 |
7 |
-1 |
|
9 |
Team Samuel* |
1413 |
9 |
0 |
|
10 |
Team Sam* |
1094 |
10 |
0 |
|
11 |
Team Will* |
1023 |
12 |
1 |
|
12 |
Team Liz* |
990 |
11 |
-1 |
|
13 |
Team Sylvia* |
931 |
13 |
0 |
Standings after stage 9 (including adults):
|
Rank |
Name |
Points |
WAS |
MOVES |
|
1 |
Team Kari |
1673 |
1 |
0 |
|
2 |
Team Kent |
1628 |
4 |
2 |
|
3 |
Team Craig |
1622 |
3 |
0 |
|
4 |
Team Hugo* |
1613 |
2 |
-2 |
|
5 |
Team Adam |
1611 |
6 |
1 |
|
6 |
Team Feng |
1585 |
5 |
-1 |
|
7 |
Team Charles* |
1584 |
8 |
1 |
|
8 |
Team Ansel* |
1579 |
7 |
-1 |
|
9 |
Team Corsa |
1566 |
9 |
0 |
|
10 |
Team Mitchinson |
1541 |
12 |
2 |
|
11 |
Team Dominic* |
1526 |
11 |
0 |
|
12 |
Team Chuck |
1508 |
10 |
-2 |
|
13 |
Team Amelia |
1489 |
13 |
0 |
|
14 |
Team Tadej* |
1485 |
15 |
1 |
|
15 |
Team Amalia* |
1481 |
18 |
3 |
|
16 |
Team Josh* |
1471 |
14 |
-2 |
|
17 |
Team Laurens |
1458 |
16 |
-1 |
|
Team Grace* |
1458 |
17 |
0 |
|
|
19 |
Team Samuel* |
1413 |
19 |
0 |
|
20 |
Team Rob |
1400 |
20 |
0 |
|
21 |
Team Corey |
1364 |
22 |
1 |
|
22 |
Team Joe |
1344 |
21 |
-1 |
|
23 |
Team Wes |
1303 |
23 |
0 |
|
24 |
Team John |
1263 |
24 |
0 |
|
25 |
Team Julie |
1238 |
26 |
1 |
|
26 |
Team Jonwaine |
1230 |
25 |
-1 |
|
27 |
Team Sam* |
1094 |
27 |
0 |
|
28 |
Team JB |
1037 |
30 |
2 |
|
29 |
Team Will* |
1023 |
31 |
2 |
|
30 |
Team Doug |
997 |
29 |
-1 |
|
31 |
Team Liz* |
990 |
28 |
-3 |
|
32 |
Team Sylvia* |
931 |
32 |
0 |
|
33 |
Team Kate |
469 |
33 |
0 |
Complete breakdown of points from stage 9:
|
Name |
STAGE RESULTS |
PINK JERSEY |
PURPLE JERSEY |
BLUE JERSEY |
WHITE JERSEY |
POINTS/CLASS |
TOTAL |
PREVIOUS |
CUM. TOTAL |
|
Team Amalia* |
217 |
43 |
6 |
0 |
5 |
54 |
271 |
1210 |
1481 |
|
Team Ansel* |
188 |
40 |
11 |
8 |
0 |
59 |
247 |
1332 |
1579 |
|
Team Charles* |
198 |
41 |
11 |
3 |
5 |
60 |
258 |
1326 |
1584 |
|
Team Dominic* |
184 |
38 |
11 |
3 |
5 |
57 |
241 |
1285 |
1526 |
|
Team Grace* |
177 |
40 |
6 |
8 |
0 |
54 |
231 |
1227 |
1458 |
|
Team Hugo* |
180 |
38 |
11 |
8 |
0 |
57 |
237 |
1376 |
1613 |
|
Team Josh* |
164 |
34 |
11 |
8 |
0 |
53 |
217 |
1254 |
1471 |
|
Team Liz* |
108 |
23 |
7 |
8 |
0 |
38 |
146 |
844 |
990 |
|
Team Sam* |
117 |
27 |
10 |
8 |
0 |
45 |
162 |
932 |
1094 |
|
Team Samuel* |
158 |
35 |
14 |
5 |
0 |
54 |
212 |
1201 |
1413 |
|
Team Sylvia* |
122 |
25 |
2 |
8 |
0 |
35 |
157 |
774 |
931 |
|
Team Tadej* |
186 |
38 |
11 |
3 |
9 |
61 |
247 |
1238 |
1485 |
|
Team Will* |
157 |
35 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
42 |
199 |
824 |
1023 |
Complete breakdown of points from stage 9 (including adults):
|
220 |
42 |
6 |
3 |
5 |
56 |
276 |
1335 |
1611 |
|
|
Team Amalia* |
217 |
43 |
6 |
0 |
5 |
54 |
271 |
1210 |
1481 |
|
Team Amelia |
167 |
36 |
11 |
8 |
5 |
60 |
227 |
1262 |
1489 |
|
Team Ansel* |
188 |
40 |
11 |
8 |
0 |
59 |
247 |
1332 |
1579 |
|
Team Charles* |
198 |
41 |
11 |
3 |
5 |
60 |
258 |
1326 |
1584 |
|
Team Chuck |
159 |
34 |
10 |
8 |
5 |
57 |
216 |
1292 |
1508 |
|
Team Corey |
184 |
34 |
3 |
8 |
0 |
45 |
229 |
1135 |
1364 |
|
Team Corsa |
197 |
40 |
11 |
3 |
0 |
54 |
251 |
1315 |
1566 |
|
Team Craig |
207 |
35 |
11 |
3 |
9 |
58 |
265 |
1357 |
1622 |
|
Team Dominic* |
184 |
38 |
11 |
3 |
5 |
57 |
241 |
1285 |
1526 |
|
Team Doug |
134 |
25 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
35 |
169 |
828 |
997 |
|
Team Feng |
188 |
40 |
11 |
3 |
0 |
54 |
242 |
1343 |
1585 |
|
Team Grace* |
177 |
40 |
6 |
8 |
0 |
54 |
231 |
1227 |
1458 |
|
Team Hugo* |
180 |
38 |
11 |
8 |
0 |
57 |
237 |
1376 |
1613 |
|
Team JB |
173 |
34 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
37 |
210 |
827 |
1037 |
|
Team Joe |
150 |
31 |
11 |
5 |
0 |
49 |
199 |
1145 |
1344 |
|
Team John |
128 |
27 |
14 |
3 |
0 |
46 |
174 |
1089 |
1263 |
|
Team Jonwaine |
143 |
27 |
10 |
8 |
0 |
45 |
188 |
1042 |
1230 |
|
Team Josh* |
164 |
34 |
11 |
8 |
0 |
53 |
217 |
1254 |
1471 |
|
Team Julie |
156 |
28 |
14 |
5 |
3 |
50 |
206 |
1032 |
1238 |
|
Team Kari |
211 |
41 |
11 |
5 |
9 |
66 |
277 |
1396 |
1673 |
|
Team Kate |
73 |
12 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
14 |
87 |
382 |
469 |
|
Team Kent |
213 |
42 |
11 |
8 |
9 |
70 |
283 |
1345 |
1628 |
|
Team Laurens |
167 |
36 |
11 |
3 |
5 |
55 |
222 |
1236 |
1458 |
|
Team Liz* |
108 |
23 |
7 |
8 |
0 |
38 |
146 |
844 |
990 |
|
Team Mitchinson |
215 |
40 |
11 |
8 |
0 |
59 |
274 |
1267 |
1541 |
|
Team Rob |
170 |
35 |
11 |
3 |
4 |
53 |
223 |
1177 |
1400 |
|
Team Sam* |
117 |
27 |
10 |
8 |
0 |
45 |
162 |
932 |
1094 |
|
Team Samuel* |
158 |
35 |
14 |
5 |
0 |
54 |
212 |
1201 |
1413 |
|
Team Sylvia* |
122 |
25 |
2 |
8 |
0 |
35 |
157 |
774 |
931 |
|
Team Tadej* |
186 |
38 |
11 |
3 |
9 |
61 |
247 |
1238 |
1485 |
|
Team Wes |
147 |
32 |
6 |
8 |
0 |
46 |
193 |
1110 |
1303 |
|
Team Will* |
157 |
35 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
42 |
199 |
824 |
1023 |
-Laurens.aav