Vuelta 2023: Kron wins on Montjuïc, Piccolo new leader

foto: Cor VosAndreas Kron strikes on the Montjuïc and he solos to victory. Kaden Groves wins the group sprint, while breakaway rider Andrea Piccolo moves into the overall race lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2nd stage 2023 Vuelta

1. Andreas Kron (den)
2. Kaden Groves (aus) + 0.07
3. Andrea Vendrame (ita) s.t.
4. Andrea Bagioli (ita) s.t.
5. Fernando Barcelo (spa) s.t.
6. Iván García (spa) s.t.
7. Romain Grégoire (fra) s.t. –
8. Lennert Van Eetvelt (bel) s.t. –
9. Marijn van den Berg (nld) s.t. –
10. Kobe Goossens (bel) s.t.

GC after stage 2
1. Andrea Piccolo (ita)
2. Javier Romo (spa) + 0.11
3. Iván García (spa) + 0.13
4. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
5. Max Poole (gbr) s.t.
6. Nelson Oliveira (por) s.t.
7. Imanol Erviti (spa) s.t.
8. Enric Mas (spa) s.t.
9. Einer Rubio (col) s.t.
10. Sean Flynn (gbr) s.t.

Race report
Matteo Sobrero initiates the breakaway on the Coll de Sant Bartomeu. Javier Romo and Joel Nicolau rejoin the Italian, while Andrea Piccolo bridges across on descent. Jetse Bol makes it five at the front after a 10 kilometres chase. They open up a 3 minutes lead.

Matteo Sobrero and Javier Romo both take 6 KOM points on the intermediate climbs.

Bol and Nicolau can’t follow the pace in the last 50 kilometres, while Sobrero loses contact inside the last 24 kilometres. Moments later red jersey Milesi hits the deck and he will lose the jersey.

The GC timings are taken with 9 kilometres to go and that’s where Piccolo and Romo are still 18 seconds clear. So the young Italian moves into the GC lead. The two are caught early on the Montjuïc circuit.

Kron strikes on the Montjuïc climb and reaches the summit with a small lead. He powers on to the best win in his career.

Another interesting read: route 2nd stage 2023 Vuelta.