The Vuelta is far from being unanimous within the peloton. If it has already made people happy with the collective victory of the DSM of Romain Bardet on the first stage and that of Andreas Kron yesterday in Barcelona, the leaders of the general are unhappy with the organization.
Launched by outgoing winner Remco Evenepoel controversial loser of the team time trial this Saturday, criticism from the headliners of this Tour of Spain poured in. Indeed, the Belgian and his Soudal Quick-Step team had to finish their night time trial in heavy rain and a gradual drop in light. Another team well impacted by race conditions: Jumbo-Visma. Also affected by the deluge and the dantesque conditions during the first stage, the winner of the Tour de France suffered a puncture and his formation was relegated to more than 30 seconds behind the winners of the day.
This Sunday before the start of the second stage, the Danish dissatisfied with the organization and the conditions of the race tried a gamble.
In a video filmed by Eurosport, we can clearly see Jonas Vingegaard entering the Movistar training bus to negotiate with the training leader Enric Mas. The Dane is negotiating with the second of the last edition to convince him not to start the second stage because of the very difficult weather conditions, still observed this Sunday before the 181.3 kilometers planned between Mataro and Barcelona. After discussion, the two riders decided not to start.
Faced with pressure from the teams and the many critics, the organization of this Tour of Spain heard the concerns of the peloton and found a consensus. Faced with the difficult race conditions, the bosses of the Vuelta decided to judge the times retained in the general classification in Montjuic, nine kilometers from the finish initially decided to avoid a tense and dangerous final.
