As it happened: João Almeida eats into Jonas Vingegaard’s lead on shortened stage 18 time of the Vuelta a España

Thanks for joining us today, for another close, tense battle in the race for the red jersey.

That contest will likely take a pause tomorrow, when the race at long last returns to some flat terrain to give the sprinters a go. It’s been a long time since the last bunch sprint, and so the sprinters will be raring to go - make sure to come back tomorrow to follow along with all the action.

Here's our report of the stage today.

Vuelta a España stage 18: Filippo Ganna prevails over Jay Vine for victory in Valladolid time trial

It was another good day for Tom Pidcock, who strengthened his hold on the podium by a few seconds. Time trialling might have been a particular weakness for the Brit, and by coming though today’s so well, he now looks like a complete Grand Tour contender.

Almeida is philosophical at the finish, but does say he wishes the stage had been the full length so he could have maximised his time gains. Still, there's more than enough road in the final mountain stage for him to have a chance of regaining those 40 seconds he needs to win the red jersey.

Vingegaard had to go deep for that finish, and does look like he’s getting tired this final week. He posted the 9th best time - a strong time, but we know him to be one of the best in the world against the clock when at his best.

As for Ganna, that’s the 9th Grand Tour stage win of his career, and 2nd at the Vuelta (which was also a time trial in Valladolid, two years ago). He’s had a relatively quiet season having been so strong in the spring, but has saved himself for a huge performance today.

Vingegaard's lead on Almeida is down to just 40 seconds, with 3 stages left. Everything is set up for a barstoming finale - specifcally, the final mountain stage to Bola del Mundo o Saturday.

Today's winner, Filippo Ganna.

That's 10 seconds lost from Vingegaard on Almeida. Nothing decisive, but a confidence booster for Almeida, who must believe he can take the red jersey from him in the stages to come.

Vingegaard arrives home, 18 seconds down on Ganna.

GANNA WINS THE STAGE

Vingegaard's looking smooth as he goes under the 1km to go banner.

At this rate it seems Vingegaard will lose some time to Almeida, but not much.

...and it's the 3rd best time for him, only 8 seconds slower than Ganna.

Almeida nears the finish...

There's only two riders left to finish - Vingegaard and Almieda. It seems Ganna's stage win is secure.

Pidcock finishes, with the 20th fastest time - putting a couple of seconds into Hindley. That's an excellent job from the Brit, whose podium remains safe for now.

Almeida and Vingegaard are both through the 2nd check - and there's a mere 3 seconds between them, Almeida the slightly faster rider.

Hindley's finished, with the 20th fastest time. He'll say in 4th place.

Vingegaard is 2 seconds down on Almieda at the first check. There's little between them for now.

Giulio Pellizzari finishes with the 32nd fastest time. That's enough to hold on to his 5th place, but he's lost some ground to both Gall and Riccitello.

Pidcock's going very well - he's up on Hindley by several seconds.

Hindley is 25 seconds down at the 2nd check. The big question in the race for the podium is how will that compare with Pidcock's time.

Gall loses 41 seconds, which isn't too much of a loss, but he loses his 6th place on GC to Riccitello.

Almeida's through the first time check, 1 second down the fastest time. That's solid, but we won't get a real idea of how he's going until later.

Riccitello finishes with the 24th best time, 36 seconds slower than Ganna’s. That’s OK, but will it be enough to leapfrog Gall on GC?

And now, with a deep intake of breath, Vingegaard is off, sporting one of the notorious Visma-Lease a Bike time trial helmets.

VINGEGAARD STARTS

A reminder that Almeida is 50 seconds down on Vingegaard on GC - not a realistic amount of time for him to make back today, but he could take some of it.

João Almeida sets off, his face a picture of concentration.

Tom Pidcock is off. This is a big challenge for the Brit, as someone who is not renowned for his time trialling, or for competing for GC this deep into a Grand Tour.

Jorgenson finishes with the 10th best time, 21 seconds slower than Ganna.

That realistically leaves only Vingegaard and Almeida as riders who could challenge Ganna for the stage win.

Now Jai Hindley begins. He’s been in the ascendency at this Vuelta, and will hope to challenge Pidcock’s place on the podium. At the moment, he’s 36 seconds behind him.

Yesterday's winner Giulio Pellizzari is the next to start. He's clearly in great shape, but how is his time trialling legs?

Felix Gall is off. He's struggled in time trials in the past, and hasn't looked great on recent stages, so could stand to fall down the GC today.

Riccitello starts his ride. He's one of the men who stands to gain today, with only 2 seconds to make up on Felix Gall to take his place of 6th on GC.

Jorgenson’s going well, the 6th fastest at the first time check. He’s one of the best time trialists among the GC men.

Bruno Armirail has just finished his ride, and he rode a huge final third of the stage, setting the 3rd fastest time. That’s perhaps the most notable negative split of the day so far, considering he looked out of contention at the first time checks.

Jay Vine, who came so close to setting the fastest time.

A slightly worrying moment for Jorgenson as he loses control of his bike a little round one of the many corners at the start of the route. He seems to be going hard, in defence of his tenth place.

Matteo Jorgenson starts his ride, the first of those in the top ten to do so. We're into the top GC territory.

Elsewhere, make sure to catch up on the other races that have come to a conclusion today, the Coppi Sabatini and Tour Féminin de l'Ardeche.

Armirail doesn't look set to challenge today, already having lost 7 seconds at the first time check.

Egan Bernal starts his ride, to a big cheer from the crowd. We're getting near the GC top ten.

Vine misses out, but only by the barest of margins. He's under a second slower than Ganna!

Here comes Vine...

Bruno Armirail is off. He's another quality time trialist who will hope to be right up there in contention for the top places.

That’s 6 seconds quicker than Küng, and 9 over Ganna. The Italian finished his ride so fast, but that’s a lot of time Vine has as leeway.

Vine’s the quickest at the 2nd time check, by 6 whole seconds. Ganna’s time is suddenly looking under threat…

That helped slingshot Vine to pass his minute man, Finlay Pickering - though he nearly grazed each other as he went past.

There's some traffic ahead of Vine as he continues his ride, which should give him a considerable aero advantage.

Another image of Ganna, who looks increasingly like he'll be the day's winner - unless any of the GC men are feeling especially strong.

He might be King of the Mountains, but Vine is also quality against the clock, and was third and sixth at the two time trials at the Giro d’Italia this year.

For now, the stage win is still the focus, and another contender has just started his ride - Jay Vine.

Only 20 minutes until Junior Lecerf begins his ride, after which the riders in the top ten on GC will set off at two minute intervals. Not long until the focus moves away from the stage win, and towards the GC.

Neither is Bob Jungels. He’s 45 fastest at the 2nd check, much slower than the kind of times he’d post in his heyday.

Tiberi is not pushing hard for this time trial. He’s visibly taking it easy, and posting times well down from the contenders.

Stefan Küng, who, as you can tell from his expression, went hard for his third place finish.

Magnus Sheffield has finished slower than he might have hoped for, down in 17th place.

Here's Juan Ayuso out on the course earlier.

Antonio Tiberi is off. He's a very good time trialist and could be in contention for the stage at his best - but he's been well short of that level in thie Vuelta.

De Pestel has slowed down already, 8 seconds down at the 2nd check.

Sander De Pestel has just set the fastest time at the first time check. He wasn't among the pre-stage favourites - could he be set to cause an upset?

He's fallen short! He's slowed down in this finale, missing out not only to Ganna, but also Oliveira, for the 3rd best time.

Here comes Küng...

Ayuso finishes, down in 10th place.

Küng is looking very aero and controlled as he rides the wider, flat final sector of the course.

Ayuso is slowing down, however, a distant 8 seconds down at the same point.

Küng is looking great! He's gone quickest at the 2nd time check, three seconds up on Ganna.

Küng is also well in contention, as the third quickest through the first time check. This is going to be an interesting few kilometres as both contenders complete their rides.

Ayuso is 7th fastest at the first check, less than a second slower than Ganna. He’s in the mix.

Ayuso was the closest challenger to Filippo Ganna at the similarly short and flat time trial of Tirreno-Adriatico this year - albeit a whole 22 seconds slower.

Next off is Stefan Küng, who was the last man to win an individual time trial at the Vuelta, from the final stage of last year’s race.

Juan Ayuso has set off, and he looks up for it. His targeting for stage wins over helping Almeida’s red jersey bid has been controversial all race - and, as a strong time trialist, it looks like he’s after another one today.

Ivo Oliveira, on his way to setting the second fastest time of the day.

Nobody out on the course now is threatening any of the top times, but a couple of big names are set to begin their rides in a few minutes time - Juan Ayuso followed by Stefan Küng.

There is again a very strong pro-Palestine presence on the roadside today. Here's a sample of the protesters at the start of the course.

A good ride also by Alec Segaert, who is the fourth fastest at the finish.

Kelland O’Brien finished his ride very quickly, and is third fastest at the finish. Like Oliveira, he’s another to have stormed to the finish after a relatively slow start.

Some in the Ineos ranks may be nervous about the prospect of Ganna’s time ending up being the winning time - if it does, one will be obliged to have their head shaved. That’s what the team has been doing for the previous stage wins at this Vuelta, from Ben Turner and Egan Bernal.

Ineos Grenadiers riders shave their heads in celebration of Egan Bernal's first Grand Tour win since life-threatening crash

Pier-André Côté has finished, with the fourth best time.

Oliveira was a whole 8 seconds faster than Hoole, but still 11 seconds down on Ganna.

Ivo Oliveira has just posted the 2nd fastest time, having really sped up in the final third of the course. Whereas the likes of Hoole and Pedersen all faded away during that section, Oliveira is the only rider other than Ganna to pace himself for a negative split.

Pier-André Côté is going well, fourth fastest at the 2nd check, just a second slower than Ganna.

Mads Pedersen, setting what is now the day's fourth fastest time.

Cavagna arrives home now, and he also has lost a lot of ground to Ganna in the final third. He’s third fastest, slower than Hoole but quicker than Pedersen.

In fact, Pedersen also failed to beat Hoole’s time, so is the 3rd fastest in the clubhouse. The Dane looked much more laboured on the bike in that final stretch than Ganna, moving his shoulders from side to side while the Italian was perfectly aero.

He arrives home, 20 seconds slower than Ganna. The Italian's time is safe.

Pedersen has slowed down considerably in this second half.

Cavagna's also going well, setting the third best time at the 2nd check, 3 seconds slower than Pedersen.

The final third of the course was where Ganna really sped up, so this is still going to be hard for the Dane.

Pedersen's again quickest at the 2nd check, by a fraction of a section.

Pedersen's up for this - he's the fastest at the first check!

Another time trial specialist, Rémi Cavagna, is off the start ramp.

Hoole explains at the post-ride interview that his hand gesture was a response to his making a mistake, at not knowing which way round a corner to go. Whatever happened, there was no way he was beating Ganna today given how fast the Italian's time was.

Another is Mads Pedersen, especially now that the stage has been shortened. He’s looked so powerful throughout this race that you can’t write him off.

One rider who could challenge Ganna is his Italian compatriot Matteo Sobrero, who has just begun his ride.

Wow! Ganna has absolutely smashed Hoole's time, by a whole 19 seconds. That's an enormous margin to put it into him in those final kilometres of the course. That time is going to take some beating.

NEW FASTEST TIME - GANNA

Hoole’s time looks like it’s about to be beaten, as Gana enters the finishing straight.

Dan Hoole, setting the fast time.

Ganna’s flying, storming past his minute man Timo Roosen.

Ganna's speeding up - he's 4 seconds up on Hoole at the 3nd check.

Ganna’s through the first check, and he’s a second slower than Hoole.

Vernon arrives...and he's short of Hoole. The Dutchman retains the lead by two seconds.

Ganna is looking as smooth as ever, resplendent in the tricolore of the Italian national champion's jersey.

Vernon's still flying, and is a fraction of a second up on Hoole at the first time check. This could come down to the wire.

Hoole's finished the course in 13:19, 28 seconds quicker than Eddy. He'll go to the hotseat - for now.

NEW FASTEST TIME - HOOLE

A big moment now in today’s stage as Filippo Ganna begins his ride. He’s the favourite for the win today.

Whatever ails him, he’s still gone through the second time check with comfortably the fastest time so far - though Vernon will be posting is time soon.

Hoole doesn’t look happy about something. He’s thrown his hands up in frustration with something, although it’s unclear what.

As a powerful sprinter, Vernon is one of the riders who could benefit from the shortening of the course.

Hoole has a nearly rival, however - Ethan Vernon, who's just gone through the check a second faster.

Unsurprisingly, Hoole is quickest through the first time check, 4 seconds quicker than Patrick Eddy.

Here was Oscar Riesebeek getting the stage started.

Jasper Philipsen begins his ride. He’s been quietly in survival mode for the past stages having picked up two wins earlier, and will be wanting to add to that tally in the coming flat stages on stages 19 and 21 - but not today, where he’ll want to take it as easy as possible.

Daan Hoole has just become the fifth rider to start, and the first who stands a real chance of winning this stage. The Dutch national champion won a Grand Tour stage as recently as last May, at the Giro d’Italia stage in Pisa.

It's a sunny day in Valladolid, with no sign of any wind shaping the day's times.

The riders will be setting off at one minute intervals.

And we're off! Oscar Riesebeek roll off the start ramp to get stage 18 underway.

OFFICIAL START

Vingagaard and Almeida were inseparable on the final summit finish yesterday, both showing signs of fatigue. The fate of the red jersey could depend on which of them tires the least in these final days.

'Jonas wasn't super, but neither was I' - stalemate on Vuelta a España summit finish as neither João Almeida nor leader Vingegaard attack

In terms of the GC fight, this is a crucial day in Jonas Vingegaard and João Almeida’s battle for the red jersey. Vingegaard currently leads the latter by the slender margin of 50 seconds; depending on how today’s stage goes, that could look a lot more comfortable by the end of the day, or be brought back to within touching distance.

The first rider to set off today will be Alpecin-Deceuninck’s Oscar Riesebeek, in about ten minute’s time.

The protesters continue to protest against the presence of Israel Premier Tech at the Vuelta, in the contest of the ongoing destruction of Gaza. Spain's Minister of Sport and Education has called for the team to be removed from the race.

Spanish Minister of Sport also calls for withdrawal of Israel-Premier Tech from Vuelta a España, but backs continuity of race

Initially, the plan was for it to be a 27.2km course, but that distance has now been halved due to concerns that pro Palestine protesters will affect the race.

Vuelta a España organisers shorten Valladolid time trial to 12.2 kilometres due to expected protests

Today is the all-important individual time trials stage, the only stage of its kind in this Vuelta. With the margins still tight at the top of the classification, the time won and lost here could make all the difference.

Hello and welcome to stage 18 of the Vuelta a España!