2016 Vuelta a España Stage 2: Meersman sprints to win in Baiona

Belgian rider Gianni Meersman (Etixx-QuickStep) earned the victory in Sunday’s second stage of the Vuelta a España. Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland/Sky) took over the race lead from teammate Peter Kennaugh (Great Britain).

The riders had only one considerable obstacle Sunday, a Cat. 3 climb in the middle of the course that organizers had originally designated a Cat. 2 before downgrading it.

#LV2016 just over 20 mins until stage 2 of @lavuelta gets underway… 160km coming up, possibly a sprint? ☺ pic.twitter.com/WmkuIogFOY

— NTT Pro Cycling (@NTTProCycling) August 21, 2016

At first two fugitives flashed away, soon joined by a third. The trio consisted of two Frenchmen and an Italian, who pulled out 4:20 after 40-km. At first Sky led the peloton and then Giant-Alpecin and Trek-Segafredo pitched in.

Pichon (FDJ), Benedetti (Bora-Argon 18) y Nauleau (Direct Energie), con 2'39" sobre el pelotón (-100 km) #LV2016 pic.twitter.com/6lezjfvEHX

— CiclismoInternacional (@CiclismoInter) August 21, 2016

Surprisingly after Saturday’s flat team time trial there was a man in the blue polka-dot jersey of the mountains category leader, Damian Howson (Australia/Bike-Exchange), but he was destined to lose it to whichever escapee made it up the Alto de Fontefria first. Direct Energie’s Bryan Nealeau (France) tried to shake the others, but it was compatriot Laurent Pinchon (FDJ) who took the peak.

When the riders were within touching range, BMC’s Belgian puncheur Philippe Gilbert–off to join Meersman at Etixx next season–bridged over to the trio and took the intermediate sprint 18-km from the finish in Vigo.

The catch came with 15-km to go, although several riders tried to break away on a little rise about 12-km from Baiona. Tinkoff yanked them back and then Sky and Movistar grabbed the reins.

Lotto-Soudal and Dimension Data were prominent in the final 5-km, both outfits avoiding a crash at the 2.5-km to go mark. Etixx-QuickStep led under the red kite. Canadian Ryan Anderson (Direct Energie) took a spill in the finishing straight. Meersman was effectively launched and staved off German Michael Schwarzmann of Bora-Argon 18 for his first win of the year.

Así ha sido el sprint que ha dado la victoria de etapa a @GianniMeersman #LV2016https://t.co/OE6iMbwE1A

— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) August 21, 2016

Monday’s stage had three categorized climbs in the final 60-km, including a very steep Cat. 3 ascent to the finish on Mirador de Ézaro.

2016 Vuelta a España Stage 2
1) Gianni Meersman (Belgium/Etixx-QuickStep) 4:16:39
2) Michael Schwarzmann (Germany/Bora-Argon 18) s.t.
3) Magnus Cort Neilsen (Denmark/Orica-BikeExchange) s.t.

2016 Vuelta a España GC
1) Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland/Sky) 4:47:16
2) JJ Rojas (Spain/Movistar) s.t.
3) Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) s.t.