2019 Vuelta a España Stage 2 Live Coverage
Welcome to our live coverage of Stage 2 of the 2019 Vuelta a España! Our live profile and commentary are below, followed by a preview of the technical aspects of the route.
Course Preview
The 2nd stage of the Vuelta a España leads from Benidorm to Calpe. At 199.6 kilometres, the route is far from flat, yet chances are the race will see a sprint finish.
Benidorm is a sea side resort on the Costa Blanca. It organised the Big Start in 2011, while it hosted a stage start in the 2016 Vuelta. The riders click into their pedals and travel to the Puerto de Confrides, a peak that is crested after a long climb at shallow gradients: 20.4 kilometres at 3.6%. A little later the Alto de Benilloba looms: 6.4 kilometres at 4.2%.
The route continues in similar fashion. Albeit far from flat, the 2nd stage doesn’t offer brutal climbs. However, following the first passage in Calpe the riders head for the Alto de Puig Llorença, a climb with double digit ramps early on. The Puig Llorença is 3 kilometres long and the average slope sits at 9.5%. The ascent was part of the finale of the 9th stage of the 2017 Vuelta, when Chris Froome climbed to victory in Cumbre del Sol.
After the Alto de Puig Llorença there are 24 kilometres left to race. In two sections the route descends before the last 6 kilometres are played out on the flat.
The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the intermediate sprint (just before Alto de Puig Llorença) comes with 3, 2 and 1 seconds.
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