Pellizzari conquers El Morredero, Vingegaard retains Vuelta red

Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) claimed victory on stage 17 of the Vuelta a España by attacking alone 3km from the summit of the Alto de El Morredero. The Italian came home 16 seconds clear of Tom Pidcock (Q36.5), who outkicked podium rival Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) for second place.

Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) remains in the red jersey after placing fourth, and the Dane gained two seconds on rival João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) as they sprinted for the line. Vingegaard now carries a lead of 50 seconds over Almeida into the pivotal Valladolid time trial on Wednesday.

Stage 17 of the Vuelta took place amid windswept conditions, but rumours that the final climb would have to be removed as a result proved unfounded. Before the stage, the Vuelta peloton voted to suspend the race in the event of further disruption from pro-Palestine protests, but the stage would run its full course on Wednesday.

The breakaway of the day established itself quickly with Brandon Rivera (Ineos), Madis Mihkels (EF Education EasyPost), Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain-Victorious), Harold Tejada (XDS-Astana), Joel Nicolau (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA), Patrick Gamper (Jayco Alula), Léandre Lozouet (Arkea B&B Hotels), Sergio Samitier (Cofidis), Luca Van Boven (Intermarché - Wanty), Gijs Leemreize (Picnic PostNL), Timo Roosen (Picnic PostNL), Jonas Gregaard (Lotto) forging clear.

The break's chances of success were relatively slim as back behind in the peloton, Visma | Lease a Bike worked hard on the front of the peloton with the Dutch duo of Wilco Kelderman and Dylan van Baarle dictating the tempo to keep the breakaway on a tight leash for the chances of another Jonas Vingegaard victory to stamp his authority on the red jersey.

Across the majority of the stage, it was a similar situation as the break was still kept under wraps until the final 22 kilometres, with a Tiberi attack. The Italian attacked on an unclassified ascent before the final climb, only Tejada was able to follow on the wheel as the newly formed duo obtained an advantage of just over a minute into the last 20km.

On the run-in to the final climb, it was Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe with Nico Denz who took things up. The gap to the duo ahead was slashed as the peloton navigated narrow and tricky rural roads approaching the Alto de El Morredero.

Tiberi and Tejada were joined by Samitier, Leemreize and Gregaard, but their chances at breakaway success were nil as it was all set for a general classification showdown between the likes of Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike), Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG).

In familiar scenes in this Vuelta, Juan Ayuso was dropped before he could even give an effort to his team mate Almeida, as the peloton continued to be drilled with the excellent work from Red Bull. 

It was bad news for Felix Gall's general classification chances as the Austrian was dropped before the final summit was even tackled, clearly Gall wasn't in the shape as he continued his slide after losing 54 seconds on stage 16.

On the Alto de El Morredero, it was Visma | Lease a Bike who then once again took full and commanding control of the slimmed peloton with Almeida isolated.

The firework show really get going 6.2km to go as Hindley upped the tempo, with Almeida the biggest victim of that upping in tempo but in trademark Almeida fashion, he simply rode at his own tempo and made it back to the front of the race. It became somewhat of a stand-off at the front of the race with nobody able to break free from the general classification group.

Young Giulio Pellizzari then made his move for Grand Tour stage glory inside the last 3 kilometres as it became a real tactical chess match in the group with nobody wanting to chase the white jersey, as he went on his mission for stage glory.

Once Pellizzari launched, the result was never in doubt. He held firm to take the win, 16 seconds clear of Tom Pidcock, with Jai Hindley in third. Vingegaard holds red after placing fourth and gaining two seconds on Almeida in the final kick for the line.