Jasper Philipsen Has won the first stage of the Vuelta a España on Saturday. The Belgian, who also won the opening stage in the Tour de France This Year, was the best in the sprint in the Italian Finish Town of Novara.
Philipsen was perfectly positioned by His Alpecin-DEceuninck teammates. The 27-year-old Belgian was then in a class of his own in the sprint. Briton Ethan Vernon Came Closest.
The Other Top Favorite, Mads Pedersen, Could Not Get Involved in the Sprint and finished no higher than FourteENTH Place. Tim van Dijke was the best Dutchman on Behalf of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe in Elevth Place, Five Places Ahead of Picnic PostNL Sprinter Casper van Uden.
Philipsen Takes the First Leader’s Jersey in this Vuelta, Just like he did in the Tour de France in July. Shortly afterwards, he fell badly and had to leave the tour prematurely with a broken collarbone. But Philipsen has recovered in time for the start of the vuelta in Italy.
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Philipsen Covers His Eyes After Winning the First Stage of the Vuelta
After the Gran Salida in Venaria Reale, Dutchmen Koen Bouwman and Pepijn Reinderink Joined the First Attack of the Vuelta. This Leading Group consisted of Six Men, Including Nicolas Vinokourov, The Son of Alexander.
They were allowed to compete for the mountain jersey early on the only categorized climb of the day, la serra of the third category. Not Bouwman, Mountain King in The Giro d’Italia of 2022, but Alessandro Verre was the first to reach the top and secured the lead in the Mountain classification.
Shortly afterwards, The Leading Group Exploded and Hugo de la Calle was the Only One Left. His Solo Flight Stranded About Forty Kilometers from the Finish. Then it was Countdown to the Sprint in Novara.
Philipsen Can Go for his Chance again on Sunday, in Another Flat Stage on Italian Soil. On Tuesday the Riders Will Cross the French-Italian Border, on Wednesday there is a Team Time Trial in Spain. The Final Stage To Madrid is on Sunday, September 14.