Vuelta 2014: Favourites stage 2 - Perfect day for sprinters

Nacer Bouhannifoto: Cor VosSunday, August 24th - The 2nd stage of the 2014 Vuelta suits the sprinters with 174 flat kilometres between Algeciras and San Fernando. Just one climb at the very beginning of the stage, so riders like Bouhanni and Guardini will be pleased, whilst Sagan and Degenkolb will be eyeing up this one as well. (Slideshow route/profile)

John Degenkolb loves the Vuelta and the Vuelta loves him back. In 2012 – being 23 year of age – he was fastest in five bunch sprints.

A fast man if there ever was one, Nacer Bouhanni had his break through in recent Giro. He took over from Marcel Kittel after the German had to abandon with illness. The 24-year old Bouhanni took three stage victories.

Peter Sagan was four times second in the last Tour de France. His main rivals in La Grande Boucle – Kittel, Kristoff and Greipel – are not present in Spain, opening perspectives.

Belgian champion Jens Debusscherre comes to Spain with André Greipel’s lead out man: Gregory Henderson. So that’s loads of experience to benefit from for the young Belgian sprinter.

Other sprinters in Spain are Michael Matthews, Matteo Pelucchi and Moreno Hofland, whilst Astana shows up with a delegation of three fast men: Andrea Guardini, Jacopo Guarnieri and Aleksey Lutsenko. Recently, 25-Year old Guardini was victorious in stage 1 of the Dutch/Belgian Eneco Tour.

Favourites

John Degenkolb
Nacer Bouhanni
Peter Sagan

Outsiders
Andrea Guardini
Moreno Hofland
Jens Debusscherre
Matteo Pelucchi
Michael Matthews

Vuelta 2014 stage 2: Images and more

Click on the images to zoom


Watch the highlights of recent races here:
Related articles
The Route - Vuelta 2014 Riders and teams - Vuelta 2014 Withdrawals - Vuelta 2014 Favourites - Vuelta 2014 Favourites - Vuelta 2014
More articles
Like our Facebook page and stay on top of all pro-race information!