'He told me to grow some balls' – Tom Pidcock makes big GC gains at Vuelta a España but frustrates João Almeida in the process

ALFARO, SPAIN - AUGUST 31: (L-R) Thomas Pidcock of Great Britain and Team Q36.5 Pro Cycling and Joao Almeida of Portugal and UAE Team Emirates - XRG compete in the chase group during the La Vuelta - 80th Tour of Spain 2025, Stage 9 a 195.5km stage from Alfaro to Estacion de Esqui de Valdezcaray 1541m / #UCIWT / on August 31, 2025 in Alfaro, Spain. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images).

Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) said João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) shouted at him to "grow some balls'" as the pair tried to chase down a solo Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) up the final climb on stage 9 of the Vuelta a España. 

In a huge boost for Pidcock's general classification ambitions – which he signalled as finishing in the top 10 in Madrid – the Brit finished second on the stage to close out the first week in fine fashion, and now sits in fourth overall, 1:35 behind race leader Torstein Træen (Bahrain Victorious).