Pascal Ackermann finished fifth on the 2nd stage of the Vuelta over 175.1 kilometres from s'Hertogenbosch to Utrecht. Irishman Sam Bennett from the German Bora-Hansgrohe team took the stage win on the second day of the Vuelta in the Netherlands ahead of Danish former world champion Mads Pedersen and Belgian Tim Merlier.
Red jersey changes hands
Dutchman Mike Teunissen took the lead in the overall standings from his compatriot and team-mate Robert Gesink. Both had won the team time trial on Friday with the Jumbo-Visma team. This also put defending champion Primoz Roglic (Slovenia) in a good position.
The sprinters only have five or six chances for a mass finish in the mountainous Vuelta, two of which are in the Netherlands. On Sunday, the 193.2 kilometres around Breda will be completely flat.
Ackermann already stage winner in 2020
Ackermann recently suffered a heavy fall at the European Championships in Munich when he hit his head with full force into a barrier. The 28-year-old received a few stitches on his finger, which he says no longer causes him any problems. Ackermann had won two stages at the Vuelta in 2020.
Profile of the 2nd stage (Saturday, 20 August 2022: 's-Hertogenbosch - Utrecht - 175.1 kilometres)
The stages of the Vuelta in detail
The broadcast times for stage 2 of the Vuelta
- Eurosport 1: 15:00-18:00
- Stage 2 can also be watched in the Eurosportplayer live stream for a fee.
- All information on TV coverage & live stream of the Vuelta
Regulations of the Vuelta
Unlike in the Tour de France, the leader's jersey in the Vuelta is not yellow, but red. We have summarised which other leader's jerseys and special classifications there are in the Tour of Spain in our text on the rules.
Numerous top cycling stars will be at the start of the 2022 Vuelta. TOUR has compiled an overview of the line-ups of the 23 teams.
Tour of Spain for women
In addition to the men's race, there will also be another Vuelta for women in 2022, the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta. It will take place from 7 to 11 September with a total of five stages.
The first stage starts in Marina de Cudeyo in Cantabria, with the final section finishing four days later in the Spanish capital Madrid.
History of the Vuelta
The men's Vuelta a Espana is back after the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France the third of the three major national tours (Grand Tours), which will be held in 2022. The Tour of Spain was held for the first time in 1935 and is therefore younger than its Italian and French counterparts.
Until the 1990s, the Vuelta traditionally took place in spring. The date was then moved to August or September. There was one exception in 2020, when the Vuelta was moved to October and November due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The record winner is the Spaniard Roberto Heras with four titles. Three Germans have won the race so far: Rudi Altig (1962), Rolf Wolfshohl (1965) and Jan Ullrich (1999).
