The Ultimate Vuelta a España 2025 Fantasy Guide is here to help you navigate one of the most dynamic editions of the Spanish Grand Tour in years. With a stacked GC field, legendary climbs like the Angliru and Bola del Mundo, and unpredictable Spanish terrain, fantasy players will need more than just the obvious picks to dominate their leagues. This guide breaks down the key storylines, jersey battles, and dark horse opportunities to give you a complete edge.
The GC Contenders: The Fight for Red
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
The Danish champion returns to the Vuelta as the clear favorite. After a Tour de France campaign where he showed both resilience and tactical precision, Vingegaard enters Spain with the backing of the strongest mountain squad. Expect him to consolidate in the Pyrenees (Stages 6–7) and then deliver decisive blows on the Angliru (Stage 13) and Bola del Mundo (Stage 20). For fantasy players, Jonas is a must-pick cornerstone around which to build.
Stage 13 finishes on the brutal Alto de l’Angliru, the climb that can make or break the Vuelta. Don’t miss my full deep dive into its gradients, history, and past winners.
Fantasy Tip: High price tag but consistent. Even if he doesn’t win every mountain stage, he’ll rake in GC points.
João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates – XRG)
Almeida brings consistency and time trial prowess. Stage 18’s individual TT could be his chance to overhaul climbers, especially if he stays within striking distance. He may not match Ayuso on brutal gradients, but his steady approach ensures a high overall placing.
Fantasy Tip: Cheaper than Ayuso in many formats. A safer GC option if you prefer reliability over fireworks.
Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates – XRG)
Ayuso has been marked as Spain’s next great hope for years, and 2025 is his chance. He thrives on steep uphill finishes like Stage 2’s punchy finale, where he can gain early psychological advantage. UAE is splitting leadership between Ayuso and Almeida, but Ayuso’s explosive climbing makes him the better fantasy GC bet.
Fantasy Tip: Strong pick for summit finishes and uphill finales. Expect bonus points on Spanish home turf.
Ben O’Connor (Team Jayco AlUla)
O’Connor comes into the Vuelta off a strong summer campaign. At the 2025 Tour de France he won a mountain stage and finished 5th in the polka dot jersey classification, while earlier he placed 7th overall at the Tour de Suisse. His form seems to peak at this time of year, and with Jayco AlUla backing him, he’s positioned to hunt stages and test himself in the GC fight.
Fantasy Tip: A value pick who combines stage-winning legs with KOM potential. He’s not the safest GC bet, but his aggressive style can rack up points in fantasy formats.
Jonas Vingegaard and João Almeida have already shaped the race in week one. See how in our Week 1 Recap.
The White Jersey: Young Rider Classification
Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates)
Clear favorite for white. Strong enough to be a contender for red, which makes him almost untouchable in the youth classification.
Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain–Victorious)
An aggressive young climber with GC potential. Could push Ayuso if the Spaniard falters.
Giulio Pellizari (RedBull-Bora Hangrohe)
Promising climber who has already shown flashes of brilliance. Likely to hunt stages while racking up white jersey points
Leo Bisiaux (Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale)
The French talent is still raw but carries big expectations. Could sneak onto the podium of the white jersey battle.
The Green Jersey: The Battle for Points
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin–Deceuninck)
Philipsen’s season took a turn when he crashed out of the Tour de France on Stage 3 with a broken collarbone. Initially not scheduled to ride the Vuelta, his recovery has allowed him to shift plans. Now fully fit, he comes in hungry and fresh, making him the prime favorite for sprint stages and the points classification.
Fantasy Tip: Despite his crash earlier in the summer, Philipsen is still the number one pick for flat stages. Expect him to dominate Stages 1, 8, 19, and the finale in Madrid.
Mads Pedersen (Lidl–Trek)
Pedersen is more versatile than a pure sprinter. He excels in reduced bunch finishes and rolling terrain where others fade. Expect him to shine on hilly sprint stages like Stage 2, Stage 9, and Stage 10, making him a real challenger for the green jersey.
Fantasy Tip: Excellent all-round pick. Reliable points scorer across varied terrain.
Jasper Philipsen and Mads Pedersen have gone head-to-head in the sprints. Catch the stage results in our Week 1 Recap.
The Polka Dots: Mountains Classification
Mikel Landa (Soudal–QuickStep)
The veteran Spaniard thrives on steep climbs and could focus on the KOM competition if GC slips away. Dangerous in long mountain raids.
Fantasy Tip: Great option if you want a proven climber who attacks when free of GC duties.
Giulio Ciccone (Lidl–Trek)
Ciccone has made a career out of chasing KOM points and excels on steep gradients. Expect him to target stages 12, 14, and 15.
Fantasy Tip: One of the best-value picks for the KOM jersey. A specialist who thrives in the Vuelta’s terrain.
Giulio Pellizari (RedBull-Bora Hangrohe)
The Italian youngster could feature heavily in breakaways and rack up points on tough ascents. Has the stamina to fight for the jersey.
Fantasy Tip: A low-cost wildcard with high upside.
Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates)
Vine has won the Vuelta KOM jersey in 2024 and is a strong candidate to repeat. Best when allowed to go in breakaways and attack.
Fantasy Tip: Proven KOM talent. A must-consider for mountains classification teams.
Lorenzo Fortunato (Astana Qazaqstan)
Fresh off his KOM triumph in the Giro 2025, Fortunato comes to Spain with confidence. His climbing style is perfect for the long ascents of the Vuelta.
Fantasy Tip: A must-consider pick for KOM. Proven ability to sustain a jersey campaign across three weeks.
Fantasy Strategy: How to Build a Winning Team
Anchor your team around a GC contender. Vingegaard is the safest cornerstone, with Ayuso, Almeida, or Gall as supporting picks.
Pair a consistent time trialist (like Almeida) with a climber who can win stages (like Ciccone or Fortunato).
Balance sprinters and breakaway riders. Philipsen and Pedersen provide sprint depth, while riders like O’Connor or Tiberi accumulate breakaway victories.
Target rest days for transfers. Reassess after the first week when GC standings crystallize.
Don’t ignore medium-mountain stages. These are Vuelta specialties where outsiders thrive.
Dark Horses to Watch
Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling): Now racing for Q36.5, Pidcock brings explosive punch on short climbs and fearless descending. He’s unlikely to ride for GC but can deliver spectacular stage wins.
Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers): A strong all-rounder who could surprise in punchy stages and the TT.
Maximilian Schachmann (Soudal–QuickStep): A one-day racer suited to hilly breakaway stages.
Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain–Victorious): Active in KOM and white jersey battles, with breakout potential.
Narrative Arcs: What’s at Stake
Spain’s New Generation: Can Ayuso finally deliver a home win, or will Almeida’s steadiness outshine him?
The Danish Juggernaut: Vingegaard seeks to prove he’s not just a Tour rider but a Grand Tour all-rounder.
The Green Jersey Battle: Philipsen vs. Pedersen sets up the clash of sprinting powerhouses.
Breakaway Heaven: Expect countless outsiders chasing glory on the medium-mountain terrain.
KOM Rivalry: Can Fortunato repeat his Giro heroics, or will Ciccone, Vine, Pellizari, or Landa take control?
Final Thoughts
The 2025 Vuelta a España offers an irresistible mix of iconic climbs, fierce GC rivalries, and unpredictable stages tailor-made for fantasy competition. To win your fantasy league, you’ll need to balance safe GC picks with bold bets on sprinters and opportunists. Anchor with Vingegaard for red, invest in Philipsen or Pedersen for the green jersey, and sprinkle in climbers like Ciccone, Fortunato, Vine, or Pellizari for the KOM. Above all, stay flexible: the Vuelta is the most chaotic Grand Tour, and fortune favors the bold.
Want the latest GC standings and jersey updates? Read our Vuelta a España 2025 Week 1 Recap and check the Teams, Riders & Bikes Ultimate Guide for rosters and bikes.
