Neither winners nor losers. Or rather, no winner, but there is a loser: cycling. Stage 11 of the 80th Vuelta a España, a sort of "semi-classic of Bilbao" over 157.4 kilometers, with seven climbs around the beautiful Basque city where both start and finish were located, promised spectacle and spectacle it was. However, 15 km from the conclusion, the organization decided that the tense situation with some pro-Pal protesters on the final straight was worthy of a neutralization: race stopped at -3 without declaring any winner and taking times there for the GC. At that moment, Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) and the red jersey Jonas Vingegaard were leading, with a handful of seconds advantage over the quartet of Almeida-Jorgenson-Hindley-Gall and half a minute over Ciccone-Pellizzari-Bernal-Riccitello... at this point, question marks open for the situation in the coming days.

OUR REPORT

Immediately climbing towards Laukiz, and uphill Mads Pedersen goes away together with Joel Nicolau from Caja Rural. About twenty men, including Ayuso and Buitrago, try to escape to chase them, but there are too many for the Visma Lease a Bike's taste, who'll send Ben Tulett as a stopper repeatedly throughout the day. At km 22, halfway up Alto de Sollube, there's a general regrouping, but the green-clad Dane from Lidl Trek doesn't give up and relauches: this time only Orluis Aular (Movistar) and Marc Soler from UAE follow him. A high-quality trio that stays in the breakaway with just a minute's margin for 67 kilometers: at the top of Aretxabalagana, Soler says goodbye to his two adventure companions and attempts the impossible; at the bottom of the descent, Louis Vervaeke (Soudal Quick-Step) launches a solo chase and at km 97 forms a duo with Soler at the front.

No luck: at the hundredth kilometer, the duo is caught and a new one is immediately created. On the first of the two Vivero climbs, Mikel Landa and Santiago Buitrago attack; behind them, a sextet forms with Kamiel Bonneau (Intermarchè Wanty), Eddie Dunbar (Jayco AlUla), Louis Rouland (Arkea B&B), Juan Guillermo Martinez (Picnic PostNL), the relentless Mads Pedersen and Victor Campenaerts for the Visma cause. At km 119 Pedersen extends his lead in the points classification at the intermediate sprint, at km 123 the chasers are reabsorbed by an increasingly thinned-out peloton, at km 124 Landa almost stops due to back pain and drops to the back; at km 132, the top of the second Vivero, left-alone Buitrago is finally caught.

Shortly after, comes the news of the neutralization. At that point, only the GC-men are truly motivated, who however had already shown they were motivated regardless, given how the race was kept closed: on the Pike, a wall made famous by the Circuito de Getxo, a in-great-form Tom Pidcock makes a surge and only Vingegaard manages to catch him on the descent. The big names divide into groups and the result will be the general standings that you can read below: Pidcock moves up to third place behind Joao Almeida, displacing Torstein Traeen from the overall podium, while Giulio Ciccone slips to eighth.

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GENERAL CLASSIFICATION


1 Vingegaard Jonas Team Visma | Lease a Bike 41:14:02

2 Almeida João UAE Team Emirates-XRG + 50

3 Pidcock Tom Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team + 56

4 Træen Torstein Bahrain Victorious + 01:06

5 Gall Felix Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team + 02:17

6 Jorgenson Matteo Team Visma | Lease a Bike + 02:26

7 Hindley Jai Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 02:30

8 Ciccone Giulio Lidl-Trek + 02:33

9 Pellizzari Giulio Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 02:44

10 Riccitello Matthew Israel-Premier Tech + 03:11

11 Bernal Egan INEOS Grenadiers + 03:23

12 Lecerf Junior Soudal Quick-Step + 04:34

13 Kuss Sepp Team Visma | Lease a Bike + 04:50

14 López Martin XDS Astana Team + 07:46

15 Armirail Bruno Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team + 08:27

16 Meintjes Louis Intermarché-Wanty + 09:14

17 Tejada Harold XDS Astana Team + 10:57

18 O'Connor Ben Team Jayco-AlUla + 13:27

19 Guardeño Jaume Caja Rural-Seguros RGA + 15:56

20 Buitrago Santiago Bahrain Victorious + 17:42

21 Balderstone Abel Caja Rural-Seguros RGA + 18:13

22 Molard Rudy Groupama-FDJ + 20:47

23 Fortunato Lorenzo XDS Astana Team + 21:31

24 Soler Marc UAE Team Emirates-XRG + 21:48

25 Tulett Ben Team Visma | Lease a Bike + 22:38

26 Cepeda Jefferson Movistar Team + 24:00

27 Frigo Marco Israel-Premier Tech + 24:35

28 Chumil Sergio Burgos Burpellet BH + 27:58

29 Poels Wout XDS Astana Team + 29:57

30 Rolland Brieuc Groupama-FDJ + 30:14

31 Landa Mikel Soudal Quick-Step + 30:40

32 Vermaerke Kevin Team Picnic PostNL + 31:43

33 Scotson Callum Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team + 34:34

34 Garofoli Gianmarco Soudal Quick-Step + 37:00

35 Romo Javier Movistar Team + 39:29

36 Howson Damien Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team + 39:46

37 Samitier Sergio Cofidis + 39:50

38 Beloki Markel EF Education-EasyPost + 42:24

39 Campenaerts Victor Team Visma | Lease a Bike + 45:20

40 Bagioli Andrea Lidl-Trek + 46:22

41 Braz Afonso Clément Groupama-FDJ + 47:07

42 Vervaeke Louis Soudal Quick-Step + 47:10

43 Tiberi Antonio Bahrain Victorious + 47:13

44 Vine Jay UAE Team Emirates-XRG + 47:25

45 Rivera Brandon INEOS Grenadiers + 48:05

46 Dunbar Edward Team Jayco-AlUla + 51:19

47 Zwiehoff Ben Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 51:28

48 Großschartner Felix UAE Team Emirates-XRG + 51:55

49 Langellotti Victor INEOS Grenadiers + 52:06

50 De Pestel Sander Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team + 52:22

51 Pickering Finlay Bahrain Victorious + 52:31

52 Bernard Julien Lidl-Trek + 53:57

53 Kelderman Wilco Team Visma | Lease a Bike + 54:37

54 Staune-Mittet Johannes Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team + 55:44

55 Sheffield Magnus INEOS Grenadiers + 55:48

56 Masnada Fausto XDS Astana Team + 56:11

57 Conci Nicola XDS Astana Team + 56:12

58 Ryan Archie EF Education-EasyPost + 56:58

59 Silva Thomas Caja Rural-Seguros RGA + 57:01

60 Verona Carlos Lidl-Trek + 57:09

61 Canal Carlos Movistar Team + 57:14

62 Kwiatkowski Michal INEOS Grenadiers + 58:04

63 Schachmann Max Soudal Quick-Step + 01:00:19

64 Molenaar Alex Caja Rural-Seguros RGA + 01:00:49

65 Ayuso Juan UAE Team Emirates-XRG + 01:01:50

66 Aleotti Giovanni Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 01:03:26

67 Jungels Bob INEOS Grenadiers + 01:03:36

68 Hamilton Chris Team Picnic PostNL + 01:05:21

69 Vansevenant Mauri Soudal Quick-Step + 01:05:31

70 Higuita Sergio XDS Astana Team + 01:05:36

71 Hirt Jan Israel-Premier Tech + 01:07:25

72 Shaw James EF Education-EasyPost + 01:07:34

73 Martinez Juan Team Picnic PostNL + 01:07:53

74 Craps Lars Lotto + 01:08:11

75 Gaudu David Groupama-FDJ + 01:08:14

76 Faura José Luis Burgos Burpellet BH + 01:08:14

77 Thierry Pierre ARKEA-B&B HOTELS + 01:09:22

78 Peters Nans Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team + 01:10:06

79 Ermakov Roman Bahrain Victorious + 01:10:28

80 Castrillo Pablo Movistar Team + 01:11:50

81 Küng Stefan Groupama-FDJ + 01:13:12

82 Koerdt Bjoern Team Picnic PostNL + 01:14:03

83 Sepulveda Eduardo Lotto + 01:15:15

84 Herrada Jesus Cofidis + 01:15:51

85 Heßmann Michel Movistar Team + 01:15:51

86 Quinn Sean EF Education-EasyPost + 01:16:42

87 Bisiaux Léo Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team + 01:16:52

88 Fisher-Black Finn Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 01:17:42

89 Haig Jack Bahrain Victorious + 01:18:05

90 Aular Orluis Movistar Team + 01:19:25

91 de la Cruz David Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team + 01:19:32

92 Chaves Esteban EF Education-EasyPost + 01:19:53

93 Côté Pier-André Israel-Premier Tech + 01:21:08

94 de la Calle Hugo Burgos Burpellet BH + 01:21:25

95 Labrosse Jordan Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team + 01:21:40

96 Gruel Thibaud Groupama-FDJ + 01:22:17

97 Gamper Patrick Team Jayco-AlUla + 01:22:23

98 Leemreize Gijs Team Picnic PostNL + 01:22:52

99 González David Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team + 01:23:21

100 Buchmann Emanuel Cofidis + 01:24:00

101 Nicolau Joel Caja Rural-Seguros RGA + 01:25:14

102 Otruba Jakub Caja Rural-Seguros RGA + 01:25:43

103 Petilli Simone Intermarché-Wanty + 01:27:27

104 Rouland Louis ARKEA-B&B HOTELS + 01:28:39

105 Nerurkar Lukas EF Education-EasyPost + 01:29:10

106 O'Brien Kelland Team Jayco-AlUla + 01:29:19

107 Segaert Alec Lotto + 01:30:42

108 García Cortina Iván Movistar Team + 01:31:31

109 Gregaard Jonas Lotto + 01:32:31

110 Glivar Gal Alpecin-Deceuninck + 01:32:34

111 Bonneu Kamiel Intermarché-Wanty + 01:33:14

112 Barceló Fernando Caja Rural-Seguros RGA + 01:33:29

113 Sobrero Matteo Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 01:34:08

114 Rickaert Jonas Alpecin-Deceuninck + 01:34:09

115 Camprubí Marcel Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team + 01:35:14

116 Cavagna Remi Groupama-FDJ + 01:35:21

117 Buratti Nicolò Bahrain Victorious + 01:35:40

118 Bou Joan Caja Rural-Seguros RGA + 01:36:12

119 Denz Nico Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 01:36:13

120 Paasschens Mathijs Bahrain Victorious + 01:36:27

121 Van Boven Luca Intermarché-Wanty + 01:37:28

122 Mihkels Madis EF Education-EasyPost + 01:37:41

123 Juul-Jensen Christopher Team Jayco-AlUla + 01:38:20

124 Vinokurov Nicolas XDS Astana Team + 01:39:00

125 van Baarle Dylan Team Visma | Lease a Bike + 01:39:02

126 Van Der Lee Jardi EF Education-EasyPost + 01:41:02

127 Lozouet Léandre ARKEA-B&B HOTELS + 01:41:06

128 Bayer Tobias Alpecin-Deceuninck + 01:41:53

129 Oliveira Ivo UAE Team Emirates-XRG + 01:42:11

130 Turner Ben INEOS Grenadiers + 01:42:33

131 De Pooter Dries Intermarché-Wanty + 01:43:04

132 Artz Huub Intermarché-Wanty + 01:44:30

133 Smith Dion Intermarché-Wanty + 01:44:34

134 Christen Fabio Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team + 01:44:37

135 Ganna Filippo INEOS Grenadiers + 01:45:06

136 Zukowsky Nickolas Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team + 01:45:44

137 Pedersen Mads Lidl-Trek + 01:45:59

138 Fernandez Sinuhé Burgos Burpellet BH + 01:47:42

139 Coquard Bryan Cofidis + 01:48:16

140 De Buyst Jasper Lotto + 01:48:29

141 Bjerg Mikkel UAE Team Emirates-XRG + 01:50:52

142 Stewart Jake Israel-Premier Tech + 01:55:31

143 Ghebreigzabhier Amanuel Lidl-Trek + 01:55:41

144 Roosen Timo Team Picnic PostNL + 01:57:47

145 Verre Alessandro ARKEA-B&B HOTELS + 01:57:47

146 Kragh Andersen Søren Lidl-Trek + 01:57:51

147 Vernon Ethan Israel-Premier Tech + 01:58:06

148 Planckaert Edward Alpecin-Deceuninck + 01:58:22

149 Guernalec Victor ARKEA-B&B HOTELS + 01:59:30

150 Aparicio Mario Burgos Burpellet BH + 01:59:43

151 Slock Liam Lotto + 02:00:55

152 Azparren Xabier Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team + 02:01:37

153 Marit Arne Intermarché-Wanty + 02:02:59

154 van Dijke Tim Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 02:03:31

155 Biermans Jenthe ARKEA-B&B HOTELS + 02:04:52

156 Raisberg Nadav Israel-Premier Tech + 02:06:45

157 Viviani Elia Lotto + 02:07:22

158 Hoole Daan Lidl-Trek + 02:08:06

159 Philipsen Jasper Alpecin-Deceuninck + 02:08:46

160 Foldager Anders Team Jayco-AlUla + 02:09:09

161 Novak Domen UAE Team Emirates-XRG + 02:12:59

162 Aniolkowski Stanislaw Cofidis + 02:17:31

163 Eddy Patrick Team Picnic PostNL + 02:20:49

164 Riesebeek Oscar Alpecin-Deceuninck + 02:28:15