Stage 17 of the 2025 Vuelta a España delivered a mix of youth, grit, and tactical chess on the slopes of the Alto de El Morredero. Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe) stormed to his first professional win, powering clear to claim the stage and extend his lead in the white jersey classification. Behind him, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma–Lease a Bike) played it safe, riding defensively to control João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) while Tom Pidcock and Jai Hindley animated the finale. With the Dane’s GC lead at 50 seconds heading into the crucial Valladolid time trial, the red jersey battle remains finely poised. We break down Pellizzari’s breakout victory, Vingegaard’s cautious tactics, Almeida’s struggles, and what it all means for the final showdown.