João Told Me to Grow Some Balls: A Guide to Resilience
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Tom Pidcock Climbs in Vuelta a España GC After Fiery Duel with Almeida
VALDEZCARAY, Spain (Velo) – Tom Pidcock vaulted up the Vuelta a España GC on Sunday after a fiery duel with João Almeida and a brutal mountain finish dominated by Jonas Vingegaard.
Tempers flared as the pair chased Vingegaard’s rooster-tail up the surprisingly decisive GC stage to close out the Vuelta’s first week.
Pidcock clung to Almeida’s wheel in the rain-lashed finale to Valdezcaray before out-sprinting UAE’s Portuguese captain for second place.
“João told me to grow some balls,” Pidcock said with a laugh. ” If he rides a bit slower, I’ll give him some more turns.”
Vingegaard detonated the GC group with a searing attack near the bottom in a move few had expected on a stage everyone circled for the breakaway.
When a five-rider break, including American Kevin Vermaerke, couldn’t open up too much headway, teams like Lidl-Trek and Pidcock’s Q36.5 Pro Cycling turned up the volume. Visma-Lease a Bike piled on to set up Vingegaard for the Dane’s second stage win of this Vuelta.
After Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) flamed out, all eyes were on Pidcock and almeida, who emerged as the only two with legs who could match Vingegaard’s pace.