Vuelta a Espana: Lampaert wins stage 2

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Yves Lampaert of Quick-Step Floors attacked out of a small group to take the stage win and the overall lead in the second stage of the Vuelta a Espana. Teammate Matteo Trentin finished second, in the same time, as did third-placed Adam Blythe (Aqua Blue Sport).

The peloton stayed together for nearly all of the stage's 203 kilometers. Only in the last 8km did the first real split appear. With two kilometres to go, Quick-Step put in a move with three riders. More followed but the action tore the field apart. Crossing under the flamme rouge, Lampaert took off and built up enough of a lead to take the clear win and the red jersey.

Trentin moved into second overall, only one second behind his teammate. BMC rounded out the top five in GC, with Daniel Oss (0:03), Tejay van Garderen (0:17) and Nicolas Roche (0:17).

"At the moment I do not realise it. I don't know what’s happening - it's really crazy for me," Lampaert said after the finish. "During the race we planned that if we could make an echelon, we would try in the last 10km. We went full from last three kilometres, then we were away with Alaphilippe and a few guys in the break. After that, just before the roundabout, they shouted at me, 'go go go!' I knew I could ride one kilometre very fast and it worked out."

Vincenzo Nibali was the best finishers from the GC favourites, finishing in the same time as Lampaert. Chris Froome moved up from eighth to ninth, 21 seconds down.

How it unfolded

Blue skies greeted the peloton in the ancient city of Nimes, France, but the riders were too nervous of the predicted strong crosswinds to enjoy the atmosphere. The 203-km long stage took off after a long neutralized section. Trek-Segafredo set a a high pace at the front, preventing breaks and keeping things under control for GC candidate Alberto Contador and, candidate for stage victory, John Degenkolb.

That is how things stayed for a long, long time. The whole field stayed close together. Finally with 75km to go, they were hit by some heavy crosswinds and the first gaps in the field appeared. Jarlinson Pantano of Trek-Segafredo was at the head of the field and put up a hard pace. About 20 riders, with no top names among them, were dropped. It didn't last long though, as they were all back together some six kilometres later.

Earlier crashes saw all the riders jump right back on their bikes, but a crash with about 60km to go, involving a low stone wall, had a different outcome. Anass Ait El Abdia of UAE looked to be the most seriously affected. Marc Fournier (FDJ) and Javier Moreno (Bahrain Merida) were also involved. El Abdia had to abandon, with an apparent broken collarbone, while the other two were able to eventually get back going. Moreno left the race a few kilometres later.

Some 10km later, a fast moving train brought things to a stop, without incident. The next action came with the day's only intermediate sprint. Katusha sent three riders up the road, but they were pulled back. Matteo Trentin (Quick-Step Floors) was able to win it and take the three bonus seconds.

Team Sky moved to the front and with eight kilometres to go, the field split, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that several small groups dropped off the back. Astana, apparently riding for Fabio Aru, jumped into the lead to work as well. 

At the two kilometres to go marker, a group of seven jumped clear, including three Quick-Step riders. More riders followed as the peloton was ripped apart. Lampaert took off in the final kilometer. His followers pulled hard but Lampaert had enough of a lead to take not only the win but the overall lead.

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