Sunday, August 24th, 2nd stage: Alba > Limone Piemonte
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) mastered the first uphill finish of La Vuelta 25 on Sunday, narrowly getting the better of Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) in Limone Piemonte. The Danish climber was involved in a crash that left him with a bloody left elbow but didn’t prevent him from powering to victory in a punchy finale. He also takes his first La Roja, after claiming the Maillot Jaune on 27 occasions at the Tour de France. He is the third Danish rider to lead the overall standings of La Vuelta after Lars MIchaelsen (1997) and Jakob Fuglsang (2011). David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) completes the stage top-3 after his teammate Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet had to withdraw from the race due to a crash. Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) is the only other rider who managed to finish with the same time as Vingegaard, while Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) dropped 2’’ on the line.
After the opening sprint dominated by Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) in Novara, the peloton of La Vuelta 25 face a first uphill challenge in Limone Piemonte (9.8km, 5.1%) at the end of a 159.5-km stage from Alba. The crowds celebrate local hero Matteo Sobrero and witness a lively battle for the breakaway after the race paid tribute to Ivan Melendez, a junior rider who passed away on Saturday while competing in the 9th edition of the Vuelta Ciclista a la Ribera del Duero.
Fernandez replaces Denz
Gal Glivar (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is the first rider to attack, as soon as the flag drops. He’s followed by Jakub Otruba (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and Liam Slock (Lotto). Already a Grand Tour stage winner on Piedmont roads (Rivoli, Giro 2023), Nico Denz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) joins them at km 3, and the battle goes on behind them with Burgos Burpellet BH determined to make the break.
At km 10, Sinhué Fernandez attacks for the Spanish team. He has a gap of 1’05’’ to bridge. In the process, he moves past Denz, dropping back to the bunch led by Q36.5 as Tom Pidcock’s teammates react when the gap hits a maximum of 2’50’’ (km 15). After 29 kilometres, Fernandez eventually makes it a 4-man break for the day.
Q36.5 lead a peloton affected by crashes
Xabier Mikel Azparren (Q36.5) is tasked with controlling the gap at around 2 minutes, while Philipsen enjoys his first day with La Roja. He is the 34th Belgian rider to lead the overall standings of La Vuelta, following the likes of Gustaaf Deloor (winner of the first edition, in 1935) and Wout van Aert (2 days in the overall lead in 2024). But he expects to lose La Roja by the end of the day.
With 46 kilometres to go, Otruba attacks on an uphill section. Glivar and then Slock manage to follow him while Fernandez is distanced and caught by the bunch, affected by several crashes on wet roads. Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet (Groupama-FDJ) is the first rider out of La Vuelta. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) also hits the deck but he rapidly resumes racing.
Vingegaard edges Ciccone
At the bottom of the final climb, the lead trio are only 40’’ ahead of the bunch. Philipsen is immediately dropped from a fast paced bunch that get back to Glivar and Otruba with 7 km to go. Slock is reeled in a kilometre later.
Visma-Lease a Bike set a strong pace, preventing attacks until the final kilometre. Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) try to get away but Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) controls their move. Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) launches a strong sprint but Vingegaard manages to jump him on the line, taking his third stage win at La Vuelta and his first La Roja.
Stage 2
- Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) 3h47’14”
- Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) +0’00”
- David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) +0’00”
GC
- Jonas Vingegaard (Visma – Lease a Bike) 7h56’16”
- Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) +0’04”
- David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) +0’06”
