Favorites stage 2 Vuelta a Espana 2024 | Wout van Aert may go for double win
Cycling
The Vuelta a Espana 2024 will be an incredibly tough edition, but the start is rather leisurely. After the short trial from Lisbon to Oeiras, on day two, it's time for a stage that heads into the Portuguese hinterland and towards Ourem. IDLProCycling takes you along.
Route stage 2 Vuelta a Espana 2024
The riders will start in Cascais, a coastal town half an hour outside the Portuguese capital Lisbon. The first neutralized section is until Farol do Cabo Raso, the most western point of Europe. The riders will face three flat kilometers until the first climb of this Vuelta a Espana: the Alto de Lagoa Azul, 5.7 kilometers at 4.6 percent.
So, some riders will also be eager to throw themselves for the polka dot jersey, knowing it is up for grabs in this opening stage. Next up is a long, rather hilly intermediate stage. The peloton will pass Sintra and the beautiful forests surrounding that idyllic town while continuing northwards.
After 140 kilometers, the first intermediate sprint of this Vuelta is scheduled, where - in case a not-too-big breakaway group gets away - we can see who has set his sights on the green jersey in this Vuelta. The Alto de Batalha is next, a fourth-category climb: 7.1 kilometers at 3.3 percent. With the summit twenty kilometers from the finish, something might happen here. But we must see if it's tough enough and if a team wants to commit to it.
Afterwards, we set a fast course downhill toward the arrival town of Ourem, which we head via a provincial road. There are some roundabouts in the final kilometers, but overall, it's a nice sprint. In the final kilometer, the climb is very slight.
Climbs
8.9 km: Alto de Lagoa Azul (5.7 km a 4.6%)
174.9 km: Alto da Batalha (7.1 km a 3.3%)
Timetable
Start: 11:50 am - 12:50 pm Dutch time
Finish: 4:19 pm - 5:19 pm Dutch time
Weather stage 2 Vuelta a Espana 2024
We head northeast, and the wind comes from the northwest, so it is mostly against us. In the finale, however, we turn inland toward Ourem, so the wind can still be quite fierce on the side—and that with temperatures of 31 degrees Celsius.
Favorites stage 2 Vuelta a Espana 2024
We are in for a super tough Vuelta a Espana, which means few sprinters. Guys like Tim Merlier chose the Tour of Poland over the Tour of Spain, whereas Mads Pedersen and Caleb Ewan also decided at the last minute to make the trip to Eastern Europe instead of Southern Europe. So who is present then?
That brings us to Wout van Aert from Visma | Lease a Bike, the Belgian heading to this Vuelta with an unlimited stage win goal. Van Aert hasn't won too many this year and would like to add some stages in Portugal and Spain, which the Dutch team will also support him in. If he manages to win more than three seconds back on leader Brandon McNulty, he also has the red jersey. Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) should also come in with no bonus seconds as number two in the GC.
Kaden Groves, winner of three stages and the points jersey in the Vuelta last year, hasn't even won this year. The Aussie from Alpecin-Deceuninck had problems in the spring and missed out on the Giro but is now determined to win something in the Vuelta. Another man from Oceania, Corbin Strong, is also looking for a Vuelta victory on behalf of Israel-Premier Tech.
Another fast man of note is Bryan Coquard of Cofidis, who has never won a stage in a grand tour. The same applies to young, talented sprinters like Pavel Bittner (who won two stages in the Tour of Burgos on behalf of dsm-firmenich PostNL) and Arne Marit, Intermarché-Wanty's fast man.
The Spanish teams also have semi-sprinters at the start, including Jon Aberasturi (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Carlos Canal (Movistar), and Pau Miquel (Equipo Kern Pharma). For the rest, the main focus will be on all-round types, genre Jhonatan Narváez (INEOS Grenadiers), Ide Schelling (Astana Qazqstan Team), Arjen Livyns (Lotto-Dstny), and Roger Adria (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe).
Favorites stage 2 Vuelta a Espana 2024, according to IDLProCycling
Top favorites:Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Outsiders:Pavel Bittner (dsm-firmenich PostNL), Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), Corbin Strong (Israel-Premier Tech) and Arne Marit (Intermarché-Wanty)
Long shots: Jon Aberasturi (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Carlos Canal (Movistar), Pau Miquel (Equipo Kern Pharma), Jhonatan Narváez (INEOS Grenadiers), Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek), Ide Schelling (Astana Qazqstan Team), Arjen Livyns (Lotto-Dstny) and Roger Adria (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
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Latest Comments
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024