The 2nd stage of 2017 Vuelta a Espana, starts in Alcalá de Guadaíra in Provincia Sevilla, the town date back to the earliest European history, settled by Greeks and later Romans. From here the route is heading into the mountains before a long downhill finishing just about 15 km the finish in Marbella in Provincia Málaga, a city and tourist destination by the Mediterranean.
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Although the stage is considered flat, it is going to be uphill most of the time and may favour the sprinter with some uphill skills like RBC Pro Cycling’s Houle or even Ayubowan!’s Bellis.
On the two cat.3 climbs on the route, we will find the first KoM holder of the race.
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A bright sunny morning in Spain, right from the start we saw a breakaway initiated by Bagdonas, and several other attacks later, but is was soon clear that the sprinter teams in the peloton was interested in the intermediate sprint in Sevilla coming up after 32.5 km
With 500 meters to the line Aberasturi lining up in the right side in 5th position, Bellis at the left in 7th, Lovassy close to his right rear, also Stauff with Schorn at wheel in 10th and 11th position.
It is Bellis in front of Aberasturi, Stauff getting the last 2 points.
We get a bit more rumble from the peloton, hunting down another attempt started by Nurmi, before things settle. Then with 42 km behind us, we get the breakaway of the day it is Nurmi, Madushanka and Kozontchuk, the latter being the better climber, Madushanka the better sprinter if this should go that far.
In the peloton many teams are sharing the workload. With just little wind-speed (8-10 km/hour), surprised to see all the pre-race favourites close to the front, not taking any risk in case the peloton should suddenly break or in case of crash, the pace though are moderate and with 110 km left the distance still increasing, at the moment 5’08.
The first KoM sprint today is the hardest, Alto de Pruna 4.8 km long with 6.5% avg., from 2.8 km Kozontchuk attacks, the others can’t follow and he creates a gap of 44” before he reach the top. Nurmi 2nd on the KoM
It is Gretsch and Egidio leading the peloton up the climb, distance when the reach the top 6’23.
After the KoM there is a series of other uncategorized climbs some with tough gradient. Gretsch, Madrazo, Egidio and Goldstein have now seriously upped the pace and the distance is shrinking, over less than 20 km it is reduced by 2’16 to 4’07.
Many on the GC contenders still alert sitting high, especially Schleck always very close to the front. But also Madrazo, Kritskiy, Dombrowski, Machado, Lecuisinier and Monsalve amongst the first 20 riders. Pluchkin further back but inside the first 1/3.
Peloton at 3’28
The trio in front get to the intermediate sprint in Arriate after 107 km, on paper Madushanka should the the stronger sprinter in front of Nurmi if they go for it.
They do, but the result it the opposite Kozontchuk in front of Nurmi, probably because the undulated route has taken its toll.
56 km to the line still 11.5 km to where the last KoM start, but the ascent actually stats here and with the hardest part first, a short section of 9.8%, distance 2’43 when the peloton starts the climb.
It is now Oliveira doing most of the work with some help from Egidio.
It is notable that Madrazo and Schleck is now in 2nd and 3rd position without any protection.
Kritskiy, Pluchkin and Machado also amongst the first 20 riders, but all protected.
We also see Groenewegen and Enger amongst the first 20 riders.
The 2nd KoM, Alto de Ronda with 44 mostly downhill km to the line, the breakaway has 2’36 to the peloton.
This time the KoM sprint is a lot more close, but again Kozontchuk claims the 6 points, Madushanka 2nd this time.
Kozontchuk will ride in the king of mountain jersey tomorrow. A little less than 10 km to the start of the downhill.
On the descent it is getting harder for Madushanka to hold wheel, and he soon has to lets go.
With his extreme downhill skills Preidler takes over the chase as soon at the downhill start, cutting the distance down fast.
Schleck either having great legs or being very paranoid, sitting in 2nd position.
The distance at the foot of the downhill is 1’05, Kozontchuk immediately attacks.
Madushanka get caught and Nurmi also falling back fast, it is now between Kozontchuk and the peloton.
In the back of the peloton we spot some sprinters in trouble, Schorn won’t make it to the front neither will Tolleson.
4.5 km to the line, Kozontchuk got 23” it is almost over.
The sprinter teams now focus on the mass sprint finish to come.
Two trains up, close to the middle Vangstad with Enger at wheel, behind him Stauff, Aberasturi, Ulanowski, Santos, Liepins and Houle
To the left a 3 stage rocket moving forward, Dumoulin, Lovassy and Groenewegen
3 km to the finish, now just 11” for Kozontchuk.
The two lines we saw earlier are unchanged, the only difference is that Aegon - Lavazza is now an inch in front of Aker – MOT, and that Euskaltel’s Zardini is coming fast at the far left, attempting to get at the wheel of Groenewegen
Well placed are also GT riders Madrazo, Schleck and Pluchkin all right behind the trains.
2.5 km left, Aegon – Lavazza’s train is very fast, the break is over.
Behind them Vangstad have swung of, and Aberasturi have gained a bit now side by side with Enger. Stauff, Ulanowski and Santos right there at Engers wheel.
Zardini did not make it, now behind Santos left.
While Liepins, Houle and now also Bellis is sitting in a mixed group with falling back lead-out men, in front of the GC favourites and peloton.
1.5 km to the line.
The 2nd stage of the Aegon – Lavazza rocket burned out to early. Lovassy was not able to start the sprint for Groenewegen and swung of to the right.
Instead it is Dumoulin opening the sprint and Groenewegen has to close a few meters gap to get on his wheel.
Right behind Groenewegen is now Enger but had to start his sprint a bit early to close up. On his wheel Aberasturi.
Stauff have moved right to take a line of his own side by side with Aberasturi.
Coming forvard between the two Ulanowski, Santos, and here we got Zardini now.
At Zardini's wheel Liepins Houle and Bellis.
First under the red kit is Groenewegen very fast having opened a huge gap, at least 10 m.
Enger next also at the left side.
At the right side Stauff seems to be fast with Ulanowski and Santos.
At the left side Aberasturi side by side with Ulanowski. He got at least 6-7 meter up to Enger.
Right on the full road line, Dumoulin.
Behind him two riders, Houle left, Liepins right, at his wheel Zardini. Just a cycle length further back Bellis.
Enger opens a gap to the next group rapidly, seems to be between him and Groenewegen, so before we declare a winner, let’s take a look at the close race for the last podium.
With 500 meters to the line, we got 9 riders quite close to each other.
First Stauff and almost side by side to his left Ulanowski.
In third position behind Stauff right side Santos. Just a few cm further back behind Ulanowski, Houle have passed Aberasturi with a wheel length.
Behind Aberasturi Bellis and to his left Liepins with Zardini. And two meters further back Schleck. Very close to the right side banners also Pluchkin have started his sprint.
Groenewegen wins in Marbella, in front of Enger. Groenewegen first to ride in the point’s jersey tomorrow.
The last podium goes to Houle with an incredible last 500 meter he has passed Ulanowski, Stauff and Santos.
Aberasturi exploded now riding with almost no momentum, but the rider behind him Bellis also had a super last 500 meters, same as Houle he passes Ulanowski, Stauff and Santos to claim 4th.
It is Santos 5th, Ulanowski 6th Stauff 7th Liepins 8th
Schleck get past Zardini in the last second to claim 9th.
The bonus seconds does not change that Porto - Prio leads the race, but now Rodrigo Nascimento will hand the jersey over to Tiago Machado, Marlen Zmorka is still the Yourth classification leader.
