Riders arrived in Cascais, Portugal for the start of stage 2 of Vuelta a Espana 2024. The race organizers had designed a hilly 194-kilometer route from Cascais to Ourem. In addition to the two Category 4 climbs, the coastal route could potentially present the Vuelta riders with windy racing conditions, which could lead to splits in the peloton. 

Primoz Roglic (8th, Team Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe) was the best positioned general classification contender following yesterday’s individual time trial, which was won by American national time trial champion Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates). Joao Almeida was tenth for UAE Team Emirates, Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) thirteenth, Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates) fourteenth, and Thymen Arensman twenty-third for Ineos-Grenadiers. Further down the rankings were Adam Yates (29th, UAE Team Emirates), Enric Mas (32nd, Movistar Team), Richard Carapaz (35 th, EF Education-EasyPost), and defending Vuelta a Espana Champion Sepp Kuss (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) in 62nd position. The scene was set for the battle to continue in stage 2.

A Spanish duo established an early breakaway after the Vuelta peloton had been set free on the roads of Portugal for the start of today’s stage 2. Ibon Ruiz (Team Kern Pharma) and Luis Angel Mate (Euskaltel-Euskadi) were the attacking optimists seeking television exposure for their team sponsors. 

The breakaway duo had fought their way to a 03:30 minute advantage over the chasing peloton after twenty kilometers of racing. Their advantage had increased to five minutes after thirty kilometers in the Portuguese hills. 

The rolling oranges were clearly showing great initiative from the start of this year’s Vuelta a Espana, thereby pleasing team sponsors Euskaltel and Euskadi. Meanwhile, the main peloton was headed by riders from Alpecin-Deceuninck – possibly in pursuit of a sprint victory in today’s stage, and riders from Visma-Lease a Bike – likely in support of Wout van Aert, who was gunning for a stage victory.

As the stage progressed, the front duo was gradually brought back by the chasing peloton. The advantage of the front duo had been reduced to 02:20 minutes with 125 kilometers remaining of today’s stage 2. The trend was later reversed as the breakaway compatriots had increased their advantage to 03:10 minutes with 105 kilometers remaining.

With eighty kilometers remaining of today’s stage 2, the attacking duo had a lead of 02:20 minutes over the chasing peloton, which was still spearheaded by riders from Alpecin-Deceuninck and Team Visma – Lease a Bike in otherwise uninteresting stage action.

Dylan van Baarle (Team Visma – Lease a Bike) crashed approximately sixty kilometers from the finish and got dropped from the peloton. An unfortunate event for teammate and defending Vuelta Champion Sepp Kuss (USA).

Luis Angel Mate won the intermediate sprint ahead of Ibon Ruiz and Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck). 54 kilometers of stage 2 now remained.

The front duo was reeled in by the chasing peloton with 52 kilometers left of today’s battle in the saddle.

Van Baarle abandoned the race with 49 kilometers remaining. Kuss thereby lost an important lieutenant, who was expected to offer him valuable support in the remaining nineteen stages of this year’s Vuelta a Espana. Van Baarle has only had twenty-one days of racing this season.

The peloton was still all together with 34 kilometers remaining. The speed had increased significantly as the riders approached the second and final categorized climb of the day, where some teams were hoping the sprinters in the peloton could be dropped.

The Vuelta peloton passed by the Batalha and Capillas Imperfectas monastery, known for its flamboyant late Gothic architecture. Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) and Mauri Vansevenant (Soudal-QuickStep) were also turning flamboyant on their bikes and finally offered some action in the stage when they attacked with thirty kilometers left. They were later joined by Kevin Geniets (Groupama-FDJ), Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), and Kobe Goossens (Intermarche-Wanty).

Attila Valter and other Team Visma – Lease a Bike riders reeled in the attackers.

The Vuelta peloton entered the Alto da Batalha climb (Category 4). Twenty-six kilometers remained. However, no significant events occurred on the climb.

Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe led the peloton into the final ten kilometers of the stage. They were protecting their team captain Primoz Roglic. Ineos-Grenadiers riders were close behind the Red Bull front men. 

Alpecin-Deceuninck riders moved to the front of the peloton with their sprinter Kaden Groves. The peloton was now setting up for a fast mass sprint finish of the stage. DSM-Firmenich also sent riders to the front. EF Education-EasyPost moved Richard Carapaz towards the front to protect his interests in the general classification.

A crash occurred with two kilometers left. Some sprint trains got derailed, while new opportunities arose for other riders.

Edoardo Affini spearheaded the peloton into the final kilometer. Teammate Wout van Aert attacked, but it was Kaden Groves who was the fastest man on the day.

Stage 2 was won by Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) ahead of Wout van Aert (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) and Corbin Strong (Team PremierTech)

Wout van Aert took the lead in the general classification.

Monday’s stage 3 of La Vuelta a Espana 2024 will be a 191.5-kilometer ride from Lousa to Castelo Branco. The stage will feature one Category 2 climb and one Category 4 climb.

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for additional coverage from Vuelta a Espana 2024.

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