Vuelta a Espana: Jakobsen sprints to stage two victory

Alpecin-Fenix rider Jakobsen edged out Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-Quick Step) in Burgos on Sunday at the end of a 166.7-kilometre flat stage that started in Caleruega.

Michael Matthews (Team BikeExchange) took third place as 23-year-old Belgian Jakobsen claimed his second Vuelta stage win after being led out brilliantly by his team-mates.

Primoz Roglic retained the red jersey with a lead of four seconds over Alex Aranburu following the defending champion's time-trial triumph on the opening stage.

Sprinter Jordi Meeus was among the Bora-Hansgrohe riders who were involved in a crash four kilometres from the end of the second day.

Diego Rubio (Burgos-BH), Sergio Martin (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and Xabier Mikel Azparren (Euskaltel-Euskadi) made an early break on a hot, draining day for the riders.

Rubio looked the strongest of that breakaway trio and he tried to go solo, but was caught with a little over 20 kilometres to go to set up the sprint finish that was anticipated.

Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates) hit the front with 200 metres remaining, with Matthews on his wheel, but it was Jakobsen who nipped in front to take the victory.

Etapa 2 - Stage 2 | #LaVuelta21Vive el último kilómetro de la victoria de @JasperPhilipsen gracias a @CarrefourESLive the last km. of Jasper Philipsen's victory thanks to @CarrefourES#CarrefourConLaVuelta pic.twitter.com/uOOzoiVLmd

— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) August 15, 2021

He said: "It's incredible. Yesterday someone put it in our team group chat [that they could win the first sprint of all three Grand Tours] and for sure it was a dream but I didn't want to think about it because the chance is always less high than it would be true.

"It just shows how everyone from team is really motivated. It was a team effort and we can be really proud. It was amazing to see all my team-mates there and everyone on the front line. I had a lot of support and this is how we can win sprints.

"Each of us can be very happy tonight and we start this Grand Tour in a good way."

1. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix) 03:58:57 2. Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-QuickStep) 3. Michael Matthews (Team BikeExchange) 4. Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates) 5. Alex Aranburu (Astana-Premier Tech)

1. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) 0:08:32 2. Alex Aranburu (Astana-Premier Tech) +0:04 3. Michael Matthews (Team BikeExchange) +0:10

1. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix) 50 2. Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-QuickStep) 50 3. Alex Aranburu (Astana-Premier Tech 50

1. Sepp Cuss (Jumbo-Visma) 3 2. Sep Vanmarcke (Israel Start-Up Nation) 2 3. Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates) 1