The Vuelta's route management team seem to have been unable to resist including a climb late on in what otherwise would have been a perfect stage for the sprinters, who continue to have a hard time throughout Spain's grand tour. Today's cat 3 test is not overly tough but the twisting roads that feature all day support the belief that this is a day on which a break could survive to the finish.
With the first mountain test to follow the next day, the main contenders may be quite happy to allow one of the lesser lights from a team seeking momentary breakaway glory to take the red jersey, knowing that it is sure to come back to one of them imminently. The gently rising finish in the beautiful city of Ronda will be spectacular.
TOPICS
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Renewi Tour: Jasper Philipsen storms into race lead with victory on windy and chaotic stage 2
Belgian comes out on top as Kooij and Merlier get caught up in the chaos and former race leader Jonathan Milan suffers heavy crash -
GP Lucien Van Impe: Charlotte Kool sprints to much needed win after a wind and rain soaked race in Belgium
The Dutch rider leads home the pack with Lucinda Brand in second and Babette van der Wolf third -
Deutschland Tour: Louis Barré swipes bonus seconds and surprising win on stage 1 to go into race lead
Isaac del Toro goes second on longest stage of the five days and drops to second overall -
Tour of Britain Women: Lorena Wiebes doubles up with long-range sprint to win stage 2
Race leader strikes again in rainy Blackpool
