Vuelta A España: Philipsen Sprints To Stage Win Again As Træen Stays In Red

Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen sprinted to triumph successful shape 8 of nan Vuelta a España, edging Elia Viviani and Ethan Vernon successful a photo-finish arsenic Torstein Træen retained nan reddish jersey.

Viviani’s Lotto teammates tried to lead him retired successful nan past 1,000m of nan 163km level thrust from Monzón to Zaragoza, but Alpecin-Deceuninck’s Philipsen, who had besides won nan first stage, pushed successful nan last moments to bargain nan victory.

A breakaway made up of Sergio Samitier, Joan Bou and José Luis Faura established a four-minute lead successful nan first 20km but were reeled successful pinch 17km to spell to group up a sprint finish.

The Norwegian Træen (Bahrain Victorious) remains 2min 33sec up of Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) successful nan wide classification, pinch 13 stages remaining.

Philipsen, a erstwhile Tour de France points classification winner, said he mislaid interaction pinch his leadout successful nan last kilometre. “I had to find my way, return a spot of other wind, and really travel precocious because my legs were concrete,” he said. “But I conscionable managed to win, truthful I’m really happy, and nan effort of nan squad has not been for nothing.

“Every Grand Tour triumph is ever a typical one, and it’s ne'er easy. You suffer a batch of days successful nan mountains to get here. From now connected it’s going to beryllium a reliable Vuelta, but pinch nan win, that ever makes it a spot much easy.”

Philipsen’s 15th Grand Tour shape triumph closed nan spread connected points classification leader Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) to 12 points. Britain’s Oliver Knight (Cofidis) withdrew owed to illness, while George Bennett (Israel-Premier Tech) abandoned nan race.

The Vuelta continues connected Sunday pinch a 195km hilly thrust from Alfaro to Valdezcaray.