Stage 2 of this year’s Vuelta already ended with an uphill finish. Along the way, a massive crash occurred in the peloton. On the tricky final climb of Caminito del Rey, a few little punches were delivered among the favourites. Esteban Chaves won the stage, just ahead of Tom Dumoulin and Nicholas Roche.

Chaves is of course the new leader. Jelle Vanendert finished 21st at 1’14” from the winner, Maxime Monfort and Bart De Clercq were 25th and 26th at 1’23”.

“There were a few attacks in the beginning of the stage, but we decided beforehand that we wouldn’t join a break unless the break counted some ten riders. After about 25 kilometres, six riders got away and from that moment on Movistar controlled the gap. At 30 kilometres from the finish a massive crash took place because the roads were becoming smaller. Bart De Clercq was the main victim of our team, but his teammates escorted him back to the bunch. Everything seems to be okay with him. Jelle, Maxime and Bart limited the damage on the final climb,” Lotto Soudal sports director Mario Aerts told