cycling: Vuelta a España Stage #2: Lampaert completes strong performance from Quick-Step Floors

Cycling: Yves Lampaert (Quick-Step Floors) has won stage two of the Vuelta a España ahead of teammate Matteo Trentin. This is how the Quick-Step Floors team rewarded itself after dividing the field in the wind a few kilometers from the finish. Yves Lampaert thus also takes the lead in the overall standings.

Lots of wind – but no breakaways

Yesterday the 72nd Vuelta a España started with a Team time trial in Nîmes. Even today, the entire 203,4 kilometers to the destination of Gruissan were only covered on French soil. The profile can also be described as a rarity, because the almost flat route allows the few sprinters in the peloton to win a stage. But the wind also had to be taken into account, as it was constantly driven near the Mediterranean coast. As expected, there were wind edges right at the beginning. A breakaway group was therefore not formed throughout the day. In some cases, the pace was kept up by the various teams, but at times people really loafed about.

Quick-Step Floors flex their muscles in the wind

When it came to the last few kilometers, the pace picked up again. Above all, the teams of the classification drivers wanted and had to show themselves at the very front. Sky took over for Chris Froome before Team Quick Step Floors was able to up the ante after a change of direction. The field immediately tore into several parts, although there were only three kilometers to go. Then Yves Lampaert attacked to crown the work of his teammates. Organized pursuit was no longer possible behind them. The Belgian pulled through and won ahead of teammate Matteo Trentin and Adam Blythe (Aqua Blue Sport). With that, Lampaert also takes the lead in the overall standings and will start tomorrow in the red jersey.

Nibali very attentive – also Chaves firmly in the saddle in the wind

The German team Bora-hansgrohe also presented itself strongly. The German Michael Schwarzmann was sixth, the Austrian Patrick Konrad ninth. Due to the gaps that opened up, there were also gaps among the classification drivers. Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) was the only one to make it into the first group. Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott) lost just five seconds. Chris Froome (Sky), Fabio Aru (Astana), Rafal Majka (Bora-hansgrohe) and a few other professionals were also well served, just eight seconds behind. Unfortunately, Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-hansgrohe) was badly hit in this regard. The German already had to take almost two minutes. So it is clear that he will only focus on Rafal Majka and any stage wins. Damiano Caruso (BMC) even lost more than two minutes. However, all this is nothing compared to Javier Moreno (Bahrain-Merida), Anass Ait El Abdia (UAE) and Michael Kolar (Bora-hansgrohe). These three already had to finish the Vuelta.

Vuelta a España stage #2 daily classification

Vuelta a España stage #2 general classification