Vuelta Stage 2 Report: On the finish of a chaotic bunch dash in Utrecht, Eire’s Sam Bennett of BORA-hansgrohe confirmed his sprinting expertise of previous years. The highest sprinters of the 2022 Vuelta a España battled it out to the road with Bennett first throughout the road adopted by Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) and Tim Merlier (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Mike Teunissen took the general leaders purple jersey.
The stage finalé
Sam Bennett took his fourth Tour of Spain stage win
The second stage of the Vuelta a España was received by Sam Bennett. The Irishman was the quickest within the bunch dash to take his fourth Vuelta stage win. Mike Teunissen completed fourth and took the general lead from Robert Gesink.
Robert Gesink standard with the Dutch media firstly
Fernando Escartín: “A primarily flat stage. The one impediment on the day will probably be a third class climb that can decide the primary riders to combat for the mountain jersey. Victory will probably be determined in a dash to the finish-line. The proximity to the ocean may provoke sturdy winds and add to the stage’s unpredictability.”
After Friday’s opening crew time trial, the Vuelta a España continued on Saturday with a 175 kilometre stage from Den Bosch to Utrecht with one ‘mountain climb’ on the route. After nicely over 100 kilometres, the riders needed to climb the Amerongse Berg (2.1km at 2.4%). Then by way of the Soesterberg Air Base, the place the intermediate dash of the day was, to the ultimate circuit in Utrecht. The end line was on the Utrecht Science Park, on the east aspect of town. A bunch dash was anticipated.
Alejandro Valverde (2009): 16 instances in La Vuelta, 22 days sporting the yellow jersey + 5 days sporting La Roja. 12 stage victories. Vincenzo Nibali (2010): 7 instances in La Vuelta, 20 days sporting La Roja. 1 stage win. Chris Froome (2011, 2017): 8 instances in La Vuelta, 19 days sporting La Roja. 5 stage victories. Simon Yates (2018): 4 instances in La Vuelta, 11 days sporting La Roja. 2 stage victories. Primoz Roglič (2019, 2020, 2021): 4 instances in La Vuelta, 36 days sporting La Roja, 9 stage victories. Whole: 39 instances in La Vuelta, 108 as chief, 29 stage victories, 8 GC victories
Jumbo-Visma had all of the classification jerseys firstly, what number of on the end?
With Robert Gesink within the purple chief’s jersey, the peloton left Den Bosch for the 175 kilometres again to Utrecht. Two kilometres after the official begin, the break of the day had already gone with Julius van den Berg (EF Training-EasyPost), Jetse Bol (Burgos-BH), Xabier Mikel Azparren (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Pau Miquel (Equipo Kern Pharma) and Thibault Guernalec (Arkéa-Samsic). When the hole was 5 minutes, Alpecin-Fenix began to chase. That they had the large favorite for the stage win: Tim Merlier.
The gun began stage 2
A day for the sprinters?
The work of the Belgian crew diminished the result in 2 minutes. With about 120 kilometres to go, Alpecin-Deceuninck put the hammer down once more. The peloton was pulled into a protracted line and the hole to the escape narrowed rapidly. At one level the 5 had about 100 metres. Nonetheless, catching the break turned out to not be the intention, as a result of little by little they elevated their lead once more.
The road cleaners will probably be busy at present
The followers have been out once more – 260,000 have been on the roadside for the stage 1 TTT
The 5 would compete for the one mountain level of the day, and the mountain jersey that went with it on the Amerongse Berg, which was referred to as the Alto de Amerongse for this Spanish event. Thibault Guernalec didn’t look ahead to the climb and attacked a couple of kilometres earlier than the underside.
One of many many canals within the space
The peloton didn’t give the break a simple time
The Frenchman had Van den Berg on his wheel, however on the primary previous of the hill the others rejoined. After new skirmishes, there was dash for the primary KOM jersey. Van den Berg was the quickest after many false sprints for what appeared like imaginary KOM traces. He beat Guernalec. Van den Berg took the one mountain level together with his dash, the subsequent is on Sunday, on the Rijzendeweg, there may be once more one KOM level.
The break’s benefit fluctuated all day
Alpecin-Deceunick have been the one crew to chase within the early a part of the stage
Van den Berg was the one rider with one thing from the early break. Simply over 10 kilometres after the highest of the Alto de Amerongse, the journey of the 5 escapees got here to an finish. The peloton stayed collectively for the subsequent 15 kilometres. With 45 kilometres to go, Luis Ángel Maté (Euskaltel-Euskadi) took off on his personal. The 38-year-old veteran managed to take a 40 second benefit.
The break began to separate on the ‘climb’ of the day
Within the run-up to the intermediate dash on the Soesterberg Air Base, Maté was caught. Simply earlier than the dash, there was a crash within the peloton. Gregor Mühlberger crashed, adopted by Wout Poels, Kamil Malecki and Steff Cras quickly after. The Dutchman and the Pole have been capable of proceed, however Cras wanted medical consideration and ultimately needed to abandon.
Luis Ángel Maté (Euskaltel-Euskadi) went solo
Mads Pedersen received the intermediate dash and it was then full pace to the end, for the actual dash. Within the run-up to the dash there was one other crash, Gerben Thijssen was concerned with another riders. Sam Bennett got here by means of unscathed and was the quickest on the line. Mads Pedersen was second, Tim Merlier third. Mike Teunisse, who completed fourth, took over the purple jersey from his teammate Robert Gesink.
Bennett was given the right lead-out from his crew
Stage winner, Sam Bennett (BORA-hansgrohe): “In the beginning, Danny [van Poppel] introduced me up with pace after which I waited for a second and my pace dropped. I used to be a bit nervous that I wouldn’t get on high of the pace once more, however ultimately we got here from behind. Danny launched me and it’s all the way down to the boys at present. They did a unbelievable job to deliver me to the road with nice legs. Within the second, it’s simply racing. I used to be extra apprehensive about holding on than I used to be really apprehensive about passing folks. It’s good [to win again in a Grand Tour]. I knew I’d do it once more, it was only a matter of getting the suitable legs. What I’m actually joyful about is constant my sample of profitable no less than a stage in every Grand Tour since 2018. I’m fairly joyful to steer the factors standings. I’m fairly pleased with my stage however I believe expertise and the blokes made a distinction at present. There may be one other dash tomorrow. We’ll go in with the identical starvation once more.”
Is that this the return of Sam Bennett?
General chief and 4th on the stage, Mike Teunissen (Jumbo-Visma): “Truly, it wasn’t the plan. I’ve been saying already for lots of days that we’re primarily right here to maintain Primoz [Roglič], additionally at present that was the large plan. However really this morning the blokes shocked me a bit saying that, if all of it went as deliberate and Primoz went protected into the final 3 km we may see if I might be the one crossing the road first. It was already fairly particular. I need to thank the crew and everybody concerned. The yellow jersey is fairly particular, however the purple one after that’s perhaps much more particular. I purpose for extra, however it was an incredible day and I’m already trying ahead for tomorrow. In my house nation, with lots of people cheering, it’s actually superb for me and for everybody.”
Jumbo-Visma stored the purple jersey, now with Mike Teunissen
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Vuelta a España Stage 2 Consequence:
1. Sam Bennett (Irl) BORA-hansgrohe in 3:49:34
2. Mads Pedersen (Den) Trek-Segafredo
3. Tim Merlier (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck
4. Mike Teunissen (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
5. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) UAE Group Emirates
6. Daniel McLay (GB) Arkéa Samsic
7. Itamar Einhorn (Isr) Israel-Premier Tech
8. Jake Stewart (GB) Groupama-FDJ
9. John Degenkolb (Ger) DSM
10. Kaden Groves (Aus) BikeExchange-Jayco.
Vuelta a España General After Stage 2:
1. Mike Teunissen (Ned) Jumbo-Visma in 4:14:14
2. Edoardo Affini (Ita) Jumbo-Visma at 0:04
3. Sam Oomen (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
4. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Fast-Step Alpha Vinyl at 0:14
5. Ethan Hayter (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 0:16
6. Richard Carapaz (Eu) INEOS Grenadiers at 0:17
7. Pavel Sivakov (Fra) INEOS Grenadiers
8. Ilan Van Wilder (Bel) Fast-Step Alpha Vinyl at 0:18
9. Kaden Groves (Aus) BikeExchangeJayco at 0:31
10. Mads Pedersen (Den) Trek-Segafredo at 0:33.
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