Vingegaard triumphs over descent in the second stage of Vuelta
Vingegaard Takes Control in the 80th Vuelta
The third stage of the Vuelta, a challenging 134.6-kilometer ride from San Maurizio Canavese to Ceres, is set for Monday. The race, which favors climbers with many mountain ascents, will conclude in Madrid on September 14.
However, the absence of several top contenders, including Tadej Pogacar, Primoz Roglic, double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel, and German youngster Florian Lipowitz, has shaken up the competition. Among the favourites to challenge Jonas Vingegaard for the overall win is Juan Ayuso, João Almeida, Richard Carapaz, Giulio Ciccone, Egan Bernal, and Jai Hindley.
Vingegaard, a two-time Tour de France winner, has already made his mark on the Vuelta. He clinched the second stage, securing victory 159.5 kilometers into the race. The victory came despite a scary moment during a 9.9-kilometer climb with an average gradient of 5.2 percent, where Vingegaard was involved in a crash involving his entire Visma team. Remarkably, he managed to rejoin the group a few kilometers later, sustaining only minor scrapes on his left arm.
Giulio Ciccone and David Gaudu finished in second and third place respectively, behind Vingegaard. Sprint star Jasper Philipsen, who won the opening stage, currently trails Vingegaard in the overall standings.
Unfortunately, Philipsen had to abandon the race following a heavy crash on the third stage of an unspecified event, leaving the competition wide open for Vingegaard to claim the overall lead. The rolling terrain of the third stage may make it difficult for sprinters to stay with the main group, potentially favouring the climbers.
Vingegaard is hopeful for a happy ending this season after being outclassed by rival Tadej Pogacar at the Tour de France. With the competition thinning out, he is considered the clear favourite to win the overall title of the Vuelta.
