Vingegaard back in Vuelta lead after protest disrupts stage

Jonas Vingegaard had his first World Tour win in more than a year on stage two of the Vuelta on Sunday

Jonas Vingegaard reclaimed the red jersey at the Vuelta a Espana as his Visma-Lease a Bike outfit came second in a team time trial on stage five that was briefly disrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters.

Vingegaard's team finished eight seconds behind UAE Team Emirates-XRG, who took the stage victory in Figueres by covering the 24.1km course in 25 minutes and 26 seconds.

Giulio Ciccone's Lidl-Trek, who had set the benchmark early in the day, finished nine seconds behind the winners in third place.

The stage was disrupted by a protest that tried to stop riders from the Israel-Premier Tech team on the road.

All eight riders were forced to slow down while four came to a complete stop as police on motorbikes tried to clear the road of protesters, who were holding pro-Palestinian flags and banners.

The disruption proved costly for the team, who eventually finished in 19th place - 54 seconds slower than the winners.

Protesters had also called for Israel-Premier Tech, owned by Israeli-Canadian businessman Sylvan Adams, to be kicked out of last month's Tour de France.

The team said in a statement that it "respects everyone's right to freedom of speech, which includes the right to protest peacefully, but we absolutely condemn the dangerous acts of the protesters".

"The team continues to work with race organisers and relevant authorities to ensure our safety at the Vuelta a Espana and all races and ensure any protests do not impact our safety, nor our right to race," it said.

Israel's military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

At least 62,819 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's health ministry.

UAE trio closest challengers to Vingegaard

UAE's 74th victory of the season helped their trio of Juan Ayuso, Joao Almeida and Marc Soler all move to just eight seconds behind two-time Tour de France winner Vingegaard in the overall standings.

France's David Gaudu, who won the third stage and led the overall standings after four days of racing in Italy and France, is now sixth and 16 seconds behind Vingegaard, with Ciccone in fifth.

British rider Tom Pidcock's Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team finished eighth, 22 seconds slower than winners UAE, and he is now 13th in the GC standings, 30 seconds behind Vingegaard.

Fifteen national time-trial champions took part in the fifth stage, with the times for the teams set by the fourth rider home.

The sixth stage of the Vuelta on Thursday will be this year's first true mountain test, spanning 171km across the Pyrenees from Olot in Catalonia to Pal in Andorra.

It will be followed by another mountain stage from Andorra la Vella to Cerler on Friday.

Vuelta a Espana stage five result

1. UAE Team Emirates-XRG 25 minutes 26 seconds

2. Visma-Lease a Bike +8secs

3. Lidl-Trek +9secs

4. Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe +12secs

5. Ineos Grenadiers +16secs

6. Movistar +17secs

7. Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale +17secs

8. Q36.5 Pro Cycling +22secs

9. Groupama-FDJ +24secs

10. Lotto +27secs

General classification after stage five

1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma–Lease a Bike) 16hrs 11mins 24secs

2. Juan Ayuso (Spa/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +8secs

3. Joao Almeida (Por/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +8secs

4. Marc Soler (Spa/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +8secs

5. Giulio Ciccone (Ita/Lidl-Trek) +9secs

6. David Gaudu (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) +16secs

7. Matteo Jorgenson (US/Visma-Lease a Bike) +16secs

8. Jai Hindley (Aus/Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) +20secs

9. Giulio Pellizzari (Ita/Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) +20secs

10. Egan Bernal (Col/Ineos Grenadiers) +22secs