On this rest day morning, we dive deep into UAE’s “strategy” — which may well be working — plus check in on the week’s other rides and races in England, the Netherlands and Maryland.
TOP STORY:
- UAE’s Strategy: We Want It All
Race News:
-
Dramatic Finale and Emotional Farewell Mark 2025 Lloyds Tour of Britain
- Wiebes Nearly Runs the Table in Dominant Simac Victory
- Thrilling Finishes, Historic Firsts at Maryland Cycling Classic
- Veterans Take on Annual Pedal to Paris Cycling Challenge
Rider and Team News:
- Tudor to Construct 10,000 Square Meter Headquarters
UAE’s Strategy: We Want It All
With apologies to Queen, over the last week of the Vuelta — which has incidentally included the Queen Stage (13, ending on the Angliru) — UAE’s plan for this Vuelta has become clear: They’ve decided that they want it all.
UAE has won seven of the Vuelta’s fourteen contested stages, including four consecutive victories in stages 10-14. (No winner was declared for the shortened, neutralized Stage 11.) Four riders have won six stages collectively — Almeida, Ayuso x2, Soler, and Vine x2 — and the team claimed the TTT title. At one point, it appeared that Vine might be on track for his third victory, but the Stage 15 track proved too flat for his strengths, and the mighty Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) ended the streak.
Vine needed a hillier parcours to nab UAE its fifth straight win.
We wrote earlier in the Vuelta that it would be Visma’s all-for-Jonas approach that would prove triumphant, that UAE’s throw-it-all-against-the-wall tactics would be far too messy to win the General Classification. But with seven stage wins secured, Vine’s Polka-Dot Jersey seeming safe and Almeida remaining in the GC hunt, even taking a handful of seconds from Vingegaard atop the Angliru, UAE may be on its way to proving us wrong. (Of course, it looks like we were also wrong about Juan Ayuso’s destination; nothing ventured…)
Ayuso’s moving on — But no, not to a football team…
Even with Soler constantly wanting to break free (more apologies to Queen), UAE’s Bjerg, Großschartner and Oliveira are managing to provide Almeida with enough support to keep him out of danger; even Ayuso lent a pair of legs to the effort in stage 14. Visma is consistently willing to sit at the front, affording UAE’s domestiques their draft.
Maybe UAE is on to something.
Now both Visma and UAE protect their leaders — but it’s always Visma on the front.
With Vingegaard and Almeida seemingly tightly matched on even the wickedest of climbs, this Vuelta’s General Classification may come down to the Stage 18 time trial. If Jonas can cling to his lead — currently at 48 seconds — and win the GC, Visma will hold the victors’ party in Rome.
A sign of frustration to come?
After all, a team can win half the stages, a lesser jersey and even the team competition, but only the squad whose lead rider wears the Red Jersey on the final podium will be able to declare: We are the champions.
For stage-by-stage accounts since our last EuroTrash, check out the following PEZ stories:
RACE NEWS
Dramatic Finale and Emotional Farewell Mark 2025 Lloyds Tour of Britain
The 2025 Lloyds Tour of Britain unfolded across six gripping stages from 2–7 September, spanning East Anglia’s flatlands to the hilly showdown in Wales. The race featured a standout performance by France’s Romain Grégoire, who eked out the overall victory ahead of Remco Evenepoel. Grégoire won both the general classification (green) and youth (silver) jerseys.
The early stages belonged to Dutch sprinter Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike), who emphatically triumphed in Stage 1 (Woodbridge to Southwold) and Stage 2 (Stowmarket) with powerful bunch sprints, establishing an early points (red) jersey lead. His stage-two win came in torrential rain, underlining his prowess and form.
As the race turned grueling, Stage 5, known as the “queen stage” atop The Tumble, delivered a memorable uphill sprint. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) soared to victory after launching his sprint in the final metres, with Thomas Gloag and Oscar Onley completing the podium. Despite an impressive performance, Evenepoel was fined and penalized for a brake-checking maneuver in the closing kilometres—though he remained close in the overall standings.
The final Stage 6 from Newport to Cardiff brought both competitive closure and heartfelt emotion. Kooij sealed another sprint win in Cardiff, while Grégoire held on to lift the overall trophy.
The race also served as the farewell stage for Welsh cycling legend Geraint Thomas, who concluded a storied 20-year career in his hometown of Cardiff. Riding in a special red-dragon jersey adorned by supporters’ names and a drawing by his son, Thomas received a warm guard of honour and fan acclaim before heading into retirement—his final chapter marked by gratitude and emotion.
Wiebes Nearly Runs the Table in Dominant Simac Victory
Stage 6 of the Simac Tour included a chunky gravel section.
In a display of sheer dominance, Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) powered past the competition to claim overall victory in the 2025 Simac Ladies’ Tour, held from September 2 to 7 across Belgium and the Netherlands. She impressively secured five stage wins—taking stages 1, 2, 3, 4, and the finale in Lichtenvoorde—only missing out on the time trial stage.
Stage 5 was the only interruption, with Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) shining in a strong individual time trial, clocking 12:34—six seconds ahead of Christina Schweinberger and 17 seconds ahead of Ellen van Dijk—though Wiebes remained firmly in command of the overall lead.
In the closing stage, Wiebes once again outpaced her rivals, sprinting to victory in Lichtenvoorde despite challenging terrain and gravel sections, with Nienke Veenhoven (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) rounding out the podium.
By the race’s end, Wiebes had not only secured the general classification triumph but also cemented her status as the undisputed sprint queen of the tour, delivering a commanding and unforgettable performance.
Thrilling Finishes, Historic Firsts at Maryland Cycling Classic
The 2025 Maryland Cycling Classic made history Saturday, as America’s biggest professional cycling race featured both men’s and women’s competitions for the first time. The milestone event unfolded on a brand-new 17.9-mile (28.8 km) circuit course entirely within the City of Baltimore, featuring a star-studded line-up of Olympians, national champions, and Grand Tour stage winners from 30 countries.
After four laps, (71.6 miles) the inaugural women’s race delivered a thrilling sprint finish in front of thousands of fans on E. Pratt Street in downtown Baltimore, with three riders charging to the line. Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka (Canyon-SRAM Zondacrypto) powered to victory, narrowly edging Alison Jackson (EF Education-Oatly) in second and Emma Langley (Aegis Cycling Foundation) in third. Jackson’s teammate Clara Emond also finished in the sprint, taking fourth.
“I’m super happy. I’m happy to be here and win this race in America, in Maryland,” said Skalniak-Sójka.” [In the] last lap it was a group going away with five riders. I was there, with two riders from EF. They attacked, but in the end, I managed to get there.”
Later in the day, the men took on a six-lap (107.4) circuit through Baltimore, battling a fast-moving storm that brought torrential rain for part of the race. The skies cleared just in time for a breakaway sprint at the finish with seven riders. In the end, Sandy Dujardin (Team Total Energies) surged to the win, with Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) right behind in second and Marius Mayrhofer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) in third. Brandon McNulty (Team USA), Mauro Schmid (Jayco–AlUla) and Anders Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) also finished in the breakaway which stayed clear of the field for most of the afternoon.
Dujardin said the win didn’t come easily, but he knew he had a chance. “We started with a group of five and I knew I had a chance with the sprint, but I had to be really careful because the roads were really slippery. I had to find good positioning and I knew that Jonas was the fastest guy so I had to follow him. I was sliding around a lot, but I wasn’t intimidated. I kind of liked it actually, and I think that’s why I won. In the end I was very happy.”
Final Women’s Results:
| 1 | SKALNIAK-SÓJKA Agnieszka | CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto | 02:51:59 |
| 2 | JACKSON Alison | EF Education-Oatly | ,, |
| 3 | LANGLEY Emma | Aegis Cycling Foundation | ,, |
| 4 | EMOND Clara | EF Education-Oatly | 00:00:04 |
| 5 | JASKULSKA Marta | CERATIZIT Pro Cycling Team | 00:00:55 |
| 6 | QUINN Natalie | Cynisca Cycling | 00:01:16 |
| 7 | DE ZOETE Mylène | CERATIZIT Pro Cycling Team | 00:02:24 |
| 8 | VOLSTAD Alexandra | EF Education-Oatly | ,, |
| 9 | O’BRIEN Caoimhe | Cynisca Cycling | ,, |
| 10 | PFEIFFER Kenna | United States | ,, |
Final Men’s Results:
| # | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DUJARDIN Sandy | Team TotalEnergies | 03:48:25 |
| 2 | ABRAHAMSEN Jonas | Uno-X Mobility | ,, |
| 3 | MAYRHOFER Marius | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | ,, |
| 4 | MCNULTY Brandon | United States | ,, |
| 5 | SCHMID Mauro | Team Jayco AlUla | ,, |
| 6 | JOHANNESSEN Anders Halland | Uno-X Mobility | ,, |
| 7 | WARBASSE Larry | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | 00:00:03 |
| 8 | BOIVIN Guillaume | Israel – Premier Tech | 00:00:38 |
| 9 | VAN DEN BERG Marijn | EF Education – EasyPost | 00:01:38 |
| 10 | KOPECKÝ Matyáš | Team Novo Nordisk | ,, |
Veterans Take on Annual Pedal to Paris Cycling Challenge 
One hundred and fifty Armed Forces veterans, serving personnel, and volunteers set off from London September 4th for the Royal British Legion’s annual Pedal to Paris charity ride.
Now in its 29th year, the event covers 285 miles from Biggin Hill through Kent and northern France, before finishing on September 7th with a ride down the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Since its launch, Pedal to Paris has raised more than £9 million to support the UK’s Armed Forces community.
Among this year’s riders are former British Army sergeant Leanne Buehling, who turned to the RBL after life-changing injuries ended her career; Lt Col Nick Wood, one of the Army’s longest-serving officers; and Army veteran Jel Bearder, who rebuilt his life and career with RBL’s support.
Money raised funds vital RBL services, from recovery programmes and mental health support to housing assistance and help transitioning into civilian life.
Teresa Greener of the RBL said: “It’s inspiring to see riders come together to support the Armed Forces community. We’d encourage anyone to join us for our 30th year.”
- To donate to Pedal to Paris, please go to https://royalbritishlegion.enthuse.com/cf/pedal-to-paris-2025
RIDER & TEAM NEWS
Tudor to Construct 10,000 Square Meter Headquarters
Tudor Pro Cycling has launched construction of a €18 million, six-story headquarters in Sursee, Switzerland, set to open in 2027. The 10,000-square-meter facility will serve as the team’s central hub for riders, staff, and operations, while also offering fans behind-the-scenes access and interactive experiences.
Designed with Goldbeck Rhomberg, the building meets DGNB Gold sustainability standards and reflects the team’s rapid growth since its 2022 debut.
Backed by local authorities and supported by founder Fabian Cancellara, the project highlights Tudor Pro Cycling’s commitment to performance, community, and innovation in professional cycling.
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The bucket-list worthy Whistler Gran Fondo runs this weekend – Sept. 6th. Here’s a look at the course from above…
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The PEZ NEWSWIRE!
Don’t forget to check the “NEWSWIRE” section, you can find it on the homepage, just above the PEZ Shop section. The bits of news that missed the EuroTrash deadline are in there, plus any news as-it-happens will be added there too.
The PEZ NEWSWIRE!
Don’t forget to check the “NEWSWIRE” section, you can find it on the homepage, just above the PEZ Shop section. The bits of news that missed the EuroTrash deadline are in there, plus any news as-it-happens will be added there too.
The post EUROTRASH: UAE Wants It All — and May Get it in the End appeared first on PezCycling News.
