Vuelta: Jasper Philipsen takes second stage victory
On Saturday, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) claimed his second win of this year's Vuelta a España, sprinting to victory in stage eight after 163.5 km between Monzón Templario and Zaragoza. The Belgian sprinter had already won the opening stage.
The 27-year-old finished ahead of Italy’s Elia Viviani (Lotto) and Britain’s Ethan Vernon (Israel–Premier Tech), with fellow Belgian Arne Marit (Intermarché–Wanty) taking fourth place. This marks Philipsen’s fifth career stage win at La Vuelta and his fifteenth across the Grand Tours.
The day’s sprint was set up after Spaniards Joan Bou (Caja Rural), Sergio Samitier (Cofidis) and José Luis Faura (Burgos) launched an early long-range breakaway. This lasted deep into the stage, but once they were caught by the peloton, it regrouped for a high-speed run into Zaragoza, where Philipsen’s explosive finishing kick proved decisive.
Torstein Træen of Norway (Bahrain Victorious) retains the red leader’s jersey. On Sunday, the race returns to the mountains, finishing at the Valdezcaray ski station after a 13 km climb with an average gradient of 5.2 per cent.
#FlandersNewsService | © SIPAUSANEWSWIRE
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