It was a long day out and a dangerous run-in, but the sprinters would not let an opportunity pass them by on stage 2 of the Vuelta a España. Both Visma-Lease a Bike and Alpecin-Deceuninck showed their cards early on, and in the end it was Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) who seized the day ahead of Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Corbin Strong (Israel-Premier Tech).
The Belgian was after a stage win, but consecutive top-three finishes and the bonus seconds on the line delivered Van Aert into the race lead by three seconds over Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates).
- The first road stage of the Vuelta had a fairly sedate start – appropriate for a hot summer Sunday afternoon on the Portuguese coast. Shortly after the flag drop, Ibon Ruiz (Kern Pharma) and Luis Ángel Maté (Euskaltel-Euskadi) dutifully formed the first doomed breakaway of their home Grand Tour, then for two hours, the peloton ambled along at an average of 34 kph, the leaders rarely much more than three minutes up the road.
- Fun facts about the breakaway (while we twiddle our thumbs): Basque rider Ibon Ruiz is making his Grand Tour debut at 25, while his companion Maté is taking on his eighteenth (twelfth Vuelta) and last before retiring at the end of this season – one of three retirees at the Vuelta, along with Rigoberto Urán and Robert Gesink. The 40-year-old has been among the pro ranks since 2008 and is best known for being a domestique and breakaway specialist. Over the years, highlights have included wearing the Vuelta’s KOM jersey for 15 days in 2018 and collecting four victories, all at stage races. Latterly Portugal has proven happy hunting ground for Maté with stage wins at the Volta a Portugal in the past two seasons, his stage 6 gong earlier this month helping him dominate the mountains classification as he built towards his final bow.
- Back in the peloton, Visma-Lease a Bike and Alpecin-Deceuninck installed themselves on the front, surprising no one that their intentions were to bring Kaden Groves and Wout van Aert – already in the green points jersey on Brandon McNulty’s behalf – safely to a sprint finish. Behind them, the GC teams stayed vigilant with their eyes on what’s to come.
- The next point of interest came a little over 50 km from the finish at the intermediate sprint – both points and bonus seconds available – and Groves took first blood among the fast men who crossed the line about 20 seconds after the leaders. Van Aert’s fourth place, though, put him provisionally in the points lead, with the finish still to come.
- The breakaway’s day was done very shortly after and the race stalled for about 20 kilometres, after which point, a few riders were tempted out of the peloton on the lumpier terrain. T-Rex rider Mauri Vansevenant (Soudal-QuickStep) was carefully marked by Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates), and Kobe Goossens (Intermarché-Wanty) joined the Groupama-FDJ duo Kevin Geniets and Stefan Küng in pursuit, potentially of the KOM points available – Küng wearing the KOM jersey for McNulty – but Visma-Lease a Bike was not interested in another chase, neutralising them in no time.
- A sort of tense stalemate rested over the peloton as they climbed the last classified hill of the stage – a few hampered by some inebriated revellers on the roadside, including white jersey-wearer Mathias Vacek – and Küng snatched the points at the top.
- The GC teams then took over controlling on the fast descent towards the finish, and though everyone made it safely inside the last three kilometres, there was a nasty high-speed crash close to the front of the bunch about 1,500 metres from the line, the Ineos Grenadiers and DSM-Firmenich PostNL teams worst affected.
- Visma-Lease a Bike and Alpecin-Deceuncninck were unaffected though, and Van Aert was shepherded in second wheel to the last 150 metres.
- The green jersey sprinted hard, but Groves was too fast, surging up the centre of the road and throwing his arms wide across the line. Corbin Strong ducked under his left hand to take third and Van Aert’s second place was enough to take over the coveted red jersey.
Stage 2 top 10:
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GC top 10 after stage 2:
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Quotes of the day
Of course, I wanted to win the stage. My team did a really good job to make it a bunch sprint. It’s unfortunate to arrive second but also today I knew arriving in the first three meant the red jersey, so after all it’s a good day.”
Van Aert said after the stage.
It’s a really nice way to win start this Vuelta, because it’s been a hard year for myself, not having a win yet. I’ve come in here super motivated to change that and I’ve got to thank my team for a really strong ride today.”
Groves said, delighted to get his first win of the 2024 season after so many close calls.
Brief analysis
- Unfortunately, Visma-Lease a Bike is already down a rider after Dylan van Baarle was forced to abandon following a crash during stage 2. It’s his second race-ending crash of the season after stage 5 of the Critérium du Dauphiné, and, again, his versatility is a significant loss to his team.
Up next
The final day fully in Portugal has a decent chance but no certainty of coming down to a sprint. The day’s two climbs could inspire the breakaway specialists to try their luck, but the pack will have the advantage in the closing kilometers. The more versatile sprinters will like their chances.
Originally appeared in the Vuelta stage-by-stage preview.
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