As it happened: victory goes to the breakaway on stage 15 of the Vuelta a España

Hello and welcome to stage 15 of the Vuelta a España!

After two massive stages in the Asturias mountains, the parcours is more modest today, with a couple of tests coming early in the stage before easing off into more undulating roads later.

This looks like ideal territory for the breakaway to succeed. With the hardest climb the category one Puerto da Garganta, coming right at the start of the stage, there’s a great opportunity for strong climbers to get up the road, in what’s set to be a massive scramble to try and form the day’s break.

Here's our preview of today's stage.

Vuelta a España 2025 stage 15 preview - A chance for the breakaway

One thing that seems almost inevitable today is that Mads Pedersen will be among the riders vying to get into the day’s break, given the ultra-aggressive way he’s ridden this whole Vuelta.

The riders are on the move, working their way through the streets of Vegadeo ahead of the official start.

And they're off!

OFFICIAL START

Jakub Otruba is the first rider to attack and get a gap.

Otruba already has a gap of 1:30, but that might change once the riders start climbing the difficult gradients of Puerto a Garganta.

The riders are on the climb, and some are on the move. Gijs Leemreize is pursuing Otruba, and there’s another group forming behind him.

Both the mountains leader of Jay Vine and - you guessed it - the green jersey of Mads Pedersen are in this chase group.

There are about 10 riders in this chase group, including Leemreize who has been caught by them.

Michał Kwiatkowski has joined this group too.

The peloton isn't letting them go, keeping them at little more than 10 seconds.

The riders at the start.

Vine and Kwiatkowski have gone clear from the rest of the chase group, which had continued to swell as more riders leaped out of the peloton into it.

The riders will be climbing for some while yet - the Garganta is a long effort, lasting 16.4km at an average of 5.1%.

Otruba is still out in front as the lone leader, 50 seconds ahead of Vine and Kwiatkowski, 1:20 ahead of the Pedersen chase group, and 1:30 ahead of the peloton.

160KM TO GO

Several riders who are on more than 20 points already in the KOM classification are in the chase group: Vervaeke, Vinokurov, Romo and Nicolau.

Pedersen and Vine, helping initiate the break.

Vine and Kwiatkowski are still ahead of the rest of the chasers, by about 15 seconds.

It's easy to forget that Otruba has been up the road this whole time with all the action happening behind him. He's just been caught by Vine and Kwiatkowki.

A mass of riders have joined the chase group behind containing Pedersen, which is now much bigger.

There's some big names among them, too - Bernal and Ciccone are both here.

As are Dunbar and Buitrago.

Pedersen and Ciccone also have 2 Lidl teammates with them. The team are putting lots into trying to make this break succeed, and finally deliver them a stage win.

Unsurprisingly, the pace at the front is too much for Otruba, who's been dropped by Vine and Kwiatkowski.

It’s all very messy out there on the road. Another chase group has formed behind the Pedersen/Ciccone group.

Vine is first over the line, to increase his lead in the KOM classification.

KOM - PUERTO DA GARGANTA

It’s actually Kwiatkowski who was dropped by Vine, not Otruba. Otruba is second to the top, with Vervaeke, Pedersen and Ciccone leading the chase group over the top behind.

Vine and Otruba are 15 seconds ahead of the Pedersen/Ciccone chase group, and 35 seconds ahead of the second chase group, with the peloton 1 minute behind.

150KM TO GO

Vine and Otruba have been caught by the first chase group.

The riders haven’t got to enjoy much of a descent. After just a few kilometres they're going uphill again, up a small uncategorised climb.

There are about 20 riders in this lead group, with the other chase group about 20 seconds behind containing around 15 riders.

Cofidis are leading the chase in the peloton for now. They might seem unlikely candidates to do so, but could be eying up a stage win for their sprinter Bryan Coquard if they can keep this breakaway controlled.

The front group is still about 20 seconds ahead of the chase group, the peloton not far behind at under a minute.

140KM TO GO

The peloton aren’t letting either of these groups go. Alpecin are now leading it, presumably a sign that their sprinter Jasper Philipsen is feeling good and believes he can survive these early climbs.

The chase group has joined the lead group, meaning we now have a massive lead group of about 40 riders.

Ciccone and Bernal are the headline names in the group, but they’re not actually the highest man on GC here - that’s Junior Lecerf who’s 13th at 18:57.

The peloton had brought these groups close, but since joining together they’re lead’s going up again. It’s now up to almost a minute and a half.

The gap's grown to over two minutes. It's going to be very hard for the peloton to control a break as big as this.

130KM TO GO

Over three minutes now for the break. The peloton have ceased the chase for now - the question from here on in is whether they can bring them back later on before the stage finish.

The break are about to start climbing the Alto de Barbeitos (11.9km at 3.8%). It’s not that steep but might be a chance for the stronger climbers in the group to thin it out and drop some of the deadwood.

An interesting development as a small group has attacked out of the peloton - among them, Jasper Philipsen.

Philipsen must be doubtful that the peloton will be able to chase down such a large group to bring things back for a bunch sprint, and so is taking matters into his own hands. But over 2 minutes behind the lead group, is surely on a hiding to nothing.

Here's a glimpse of the large breakaway that leads the race.

The break leads the peloton by a whole 6:38 now, with the Philipsen group in no-man's land 3:15 behind the leaders.

120KM TO GO

The break is done with the steepest slopes of the Alto de Barbeitos, which now eases off to the top.

Lidl-Trek are the best represented team in the lead group, with Ciccone and Pedersen joined by domestiques Bernard, Verona and Ghebreigzabhier. With the hardest climbing done, you expect they’ll try to control the group to set up a Pedersen stage win.

Philipsen and his chase group have given up the ghost, sitting up and being absorbed by the peloton. Will he put his Alpecin riders to work to try and chase down this break?

Vine and Vervaeke have attacked, as they near the top of the climb. They're going to fight for the KOM points.

Vine and Vervaeke have opened a gap on the rest, of 30 seconds already.

Vine took the points at the top of the climb ahead of Vervaeke, with Vinokurov leading the chasers behind for the 1 remaining point.

KOM - ALTO DE BARBEITOS

Here are the updated KOM rankings:

1 Vine 61

2 Vingegaard 39

3 Vervaeke 32

4 Almeida 29

5 Ayuso 26

Vine and Vervaeke still lead by 40 seconds, while the peloton is a distant 7:45.

110KM TO GO

The sprinters teams are absent at the front of the peloton, with the work instead being left for Visma-Lease a Bike to do. They might have thrown in the towel already in terms of bringing this back for a bunch sprint.

Vine and Vervaeke’s lead continues to grow, up to 1:15. They’re looking good, but have a very long way to go until the finish, and have committed to this move very early.

The two leaders up the road, Vine and Vervaeke.

Vine and Vervaeke have pushed out a little more, to 1:30 ahead of the chasers. The peloton are a long way adrift, at 9:45.

100KM TO GO

Lidl-Trek are using their strength in numbers to lead the chase of Vine and Vervaeke.

The gap between the leaders and the peloton has grown above 10 minutes for the first time today. This is one of the biggest gaps there have been all race.

If this gap continues to grow, Lecerf, Bernal and Ciccone could climb back into GC contention. Lecerf has moved up to 11th virtually, Ciccone 13th, and Bernal 15th.

Vine and Vervaeke continue to grown their lead, to 1:55. At what point will the chasers start to get worried?

90KM TO GO

Two minutes now for Vine and Vervaeke.

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Lidl are still being leant on to do all the work to bring back to two leaders - understandably so, given how Pedersen looks like the hot favourite to win the stage from this group.

While this stage doesn’t have the terrain to force a GC fight, there were developments yesterday in the race for the red jersey, which is boiling down to a two horse race between Jonas Vingegaard and João Almeida

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Vine and Vervaeke are still the quickest riders on the road at the moment, increading their lead over the chasers to 2:30, and on the peloton to 11 minutes.

80KM TO GO

Three minutes now for VIne and Vervaeke. There's no panic yet in the chase group, and they will be relying on the leaders getting fatigued at some stage, but this is a lot of ground to make up in the final 75km.

While Pedersen is the most notable name in the chase group, there are some other fast finishers he might not be comfortable taking to the finish with. Jakes Stewart is a sprinter who tends to go better on more undulating days like this; as is Orluis Aular, who already has a third-place finish to his name from the opening stage.

There are some signs the chase group are picking up the pace. Aular's Movistar teammates Canal and Romo are offering some help to Lidl in the chase, and their deficit’s come down a little from 3 minutes to 2:50.

70KM TO GO

With 10 minutes now separating the chasers and the peloton, Bernal has moved up to 15th on the virtual GC, about 10 minutes behind Jorgenson in 10th. He still has a lot of ground to make up to get back into contention for the top ten, but is showing some fight by getting into the break today during what was a hectic start.

Vine and Vervaeke's lead has stopped growing, but the chasers aren't making any more inroads. It's holding steady at 2:45.

60KM TO GO

The chasers have upped the pace notably now. It’s all strung out, and the gap is starting to come down, to 2:30.

It’s still Lidl doing most of the work, but they’re getting some help from Movistar too.

There's been a crash in the chase group - Romo has gone down.

The crash occurred when a policeman ran across the road in front of the peloton, responding to a spectator at the side of the road.

Romo is back up and riding, but not back in the group yet.

The chase group are stll making inroads, bringing Vine and Vervaeke back to 2:20.

50KM TO GO

Romo is back in the chase group.

The biggest winner in terms of the GC today is poised to be Junior Lecerf, who is up to tenth on the virtual standings, pushing Jorgenson out of the top ten.

Here was the scene at the start of the stage, where there was once again a strong presence of pro-Palestine protesters protesting Israel-Premier Tech's continued involvement in the race.

The advantage might be swinging towards the chasers and away from Vine and Vervaeke. The gap between them is coming down, and is now at 1:45.

40KM TO GO

Still the gap comes down, to 1:30. Lidl are the team doing the work, with only one Movistar riding helping, but they seem to have enough firepower to control this.

There’s an intermediate sprint coming in a few kilometres. Pedersen won’t take the maximum points, due to the two riders up the road, but stands to gain another 15 points if, as expected, he rolls over the line at the front of the chase group.

Vervaeke and Vine roll over the intermediate sprint line.

Pedersen does indeed take the 15 points as the third rider over the line, Stewart sticking to his wheel to be the fourth rider.

Vine and Vervaeke have far from given up. Their lead is falling at a slower rate now, and remains at 1:25.

Here are the new points classification standings in light of the intermediate sprint:

1 Pedersen 207

2 Vingegaard 139

3 Vernon 111

4 Philipsen 105

5 Ciccone 105

It’s starting to break up in the chase group.

Buitrago attacked, only to be brought back. Now several more moves are being made.

The increase in pace has seen the two leaders been brought back to within a minute.

Buitrago, Bernal and Pedersen have a gap over the others.

This trio is making the most of a steady uphill section to build a gap over the rest.

Pedersen, Bernal and Buitrago are now just 45 seconds behind Vine and Vervaeke.

30KM TO GO

Four riders have joined Pedersen, Bernal and Buitrago - Frigo, Aular, Dunbar and Sheffield.

This 7-man chase group are working well together, and have a gap over the rest.

Meanwhile in the peloton, Bahrain have taken over the pace-setting from Visma, presumably in defence of Traen’s top ten place on GC.

Having been brought back to just 30 seconds by the chasers, Vine and Vervaeke have dug in and are holding their advantage again.

It’s coming down again now, however, to 20 seconds.

Only 18 seconds now for Vine and Vervaeke. The 7 chasers can see them up the road on the long, straight road they are currently riding.

20KM TO GO

Vine and Vervaeke, still out in front for now.

Still Vine and Vervaeke hang on, maintaining their lead of 20 seconds. The odds are against them, but they're not giving up.

One question Pedersen needs to decide is, with fellow fast finisher Aular also in this group, does he back himself in a sprint finish? Or will he need to attack?

Surely there will be attacks from the others in the break, all of whom stand little chance of defeating Pedersen and Aular in a sprint.

They still have to bring back the two leaders before worrying about how to defeat each other. But with the gap only at 10 seconds, the catch won't take long now.

10KM TO GO

The peloton, meanwhile, is a distant 14 minutes behind.

A reminder of the seven riders in the chase: Pedersen, Aular, Bernal, Frigo, Buitrago, Dunbar and Sheffield.

The seven chasers are working well toegher, with the turns being shared.

The chasers are mere seconds away, but still the catch hasn't quite been made.

At long last, with only 7km to go, and after over 100km at the front of the race together, Vine and Vervaeke have been caught.

Bernal attacks immediatley as the catch is made.

Bernal has been brought back.

There's no more cohesion in the group. The seven are all looing at each other.

The group behind could yet come back into contention. They're only 30 seconds behind.

The leaders are working together again, with Dunbar, Pedersen and Frigo all taking turns.

5KM TO GO

Vine and Vervaeke remain in the group, and are taking a rest at the back.

Bernal is also taking a turn. Ineos have the advantage of having 2 riders in this group, Sheffield and Bernal.

Still no attacks since the Bernal effort. There's only 3km left.

Dunbar accelerates but doesn't get a gap.

Pedersen attacks! But Bernal drags the group back onto him.

Vervaeke attacks, somehow still having energy left to do so.

Pedersen shuts that move down.

Vine attacks, brought back by Bernal.

All 9 riders are still together as they enter the final kilometre.

1KM TO GO

Pedersen leads the group.

Frigo attacks, Pedersen brings him back.

Sheffield crashes.

They sprint for the line...

Pedersen wins, Aular a distant second!

PEDERSEN WINS

Frigo completes the podium in third.

The chase group have crossed the line, and Pedersen is elebrating with is teammates Ciccone, Verona, Ghebreigzabhier and Bernard.

Pedersen stormed past Frigo on the finishing straight, and, despite being on his wheel, Aular could not stay in his slipstream once he launched his sprint.

Magnus Sheffield came down on the corner leading on the finishing straight. He seems OK, but lost his chance of competing for the stage win.

The finals sprint, won by Pedersen.

We’re still waiting for the peloton to arrive, and see how much time Lecerf, Ciccone and Bernal will gain on the GC.

The peloton are into the final kilometre.

Bahrain are leading the group, and are pushing hard. They want to preserve Traen's place in the top ten.

The peloton arrive home, 13:32 after Pedersen.

That means Lecerf makes a big jump on the GC, from 13th to 9th. Traen and Jorgenson move down to 10th and 11th respectively.

Ciccone and Bernal also move up, to 13th and 14th respectively.

The stage win was what Pedersen really wanted today, and for this whole Vuelta. But the result, in addition to the points gained at the intermediate sprint, means he now has a huge lead in the green jersey classification:

1 Pedersen 237

2 Vingegaard 139

3 Ciccone 115

4 Vernon 111

5 Philipsen 105

Pedersen celebrates with his teammates.

Thanks for joining us today, on the day that Mads Pedersen’s endless efforts to win a stage at the Vuelta finally came into fruition.

Tomorrow the riders get to enjoy a rest day, but after that the race will be very much, with an uphill finish to draw Vingegaard, Almeida, Pidcock and the other GC contenders into a fight. The race is finely poised, so be sure to join us again for Tuesday’s stage 16!