Vingegaard takes Vuelta lead with long-awaited win

In stage two of the Vuelta a Espana stage, Jonas Vingegaard defeated Giulio Ciccone to claim his first World Tour victory in more than a year.

Since stage 11 of the Tour last year, the two-time Tour de France champion hasn’t won a top-tier title.

However, the Visma–Lease a Bike rider defeated Italian climber Ciccone in a late sprint for the line in Limone, Italy, on a cool, rainy 10-kilometer climb to the finish line.

Vingegaard, the Belgian sprinter who had struggled in the finale, took the red jersey from overnight leader Jasper Philipsen.

Although it is early for Vingegaard to take the stage, he said, “You’re not going to let a stage win pass so when I saw the opportunity, of course I’ll take it.” Sunday’s stage was the second of four that will begin in Italy before the Vuelta heads into Spain.

I’m very happy with the team’s performance, the fact that I’ve only recently won, and the fact that I’ve been so happy with it.

Vingegaard continued, “I went on Ciccone’s wheel and, to be honest, I didn’t think it would be possible to pass him, but from the corner on it was longer than I thought, so I could pass him.

A 157-kilometer flat stage in Alba ended with a nearly 10-kilometer climb and a more than 5% gradient on the final day.

Pidcock and Vingegaard were among the riders who slipped to the tarmac on a roundabout close to the end of that final ascent because it was 20C and it was raining.

Vingegaard said, “I went down pretty hard, but it seems like I didn’t hurt myself too badly.”

I have some bruises, but I believe I was sliding more because it was so slippery, so I didn’t experience any bad road rash.

Pidcock continued, “I’m happy with how I rode.” I believe I always need a few days to qualify for a race. We tried again, but I didn’t have the legs, so we did it.

1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma–Lease a Bike) 3 hrs 47 mins 14 secs

2. Same time Giulio Ciccone (Ita/Lidl-Trek).

3. David Gaudu (Fra/Groupama–FDJ)

4. Egan Bernal (Col/Ineos Grenadiers)

5. 2secs for Joao Almeida (Por/UAE Team Emirates-XRG)

6. Same time as Felix Gall (Aut/Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale).

7. Jai Hindley (Aus/Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe)

8. Juan Ayuso (Spa/UAE Team Emirates-XRG)

9. Matteo Jorgenson (US/Visma-Lease a Bike)

1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma–Lease a Bike) 7 hrs 56 minutes 16 secs

2. Giulio Ciccone (4secs) (Ita/Lidl-Trek).

3. David Gaudu (Fra/Groupama–FDJ) + 6 seconds

4. Egan Bernal (Col/Ineos Grenadiers) + 10 seconds

5. Tom Pidcock (GB/Q36.5 Pro Cycling) + 12secs

6. Same time as Jai Hindley (Aus/Red Bull–Bora Hansgrohe).

7. Sanigo Buitrago (Col/Bahrain Victorious)

8. Matteo Jorgenson (US/Visma-Lease a Bike)

9. Juan Ayuso (Spa/UAE Team Emirates-XRG)