Stage 2: Caleruega (VIII Centenario de Santo Domingo de Guzmán)–Burgos (Gamonal)
On a course that zigzags its way north, back to Burgos and its modern suburb of Gamonal, there is plenty of time for a breakaway to stick.
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Sprint, sprint, sprint!
The religious theme of the Vuelta’s opening continues with a stage starting in Caleruega, the birthplace of Santa Domingo, founder of the Dominican Order, who died 800 years ago. On a course that zigzags its way north, back to Burgos and its modern suburb of Gamonal, there is plenty of time for a breakaway to stick; but with crosswinds likely in the finale and everyone having fresh legs, expect the sprinters’ teams to work toward a mass-sprint finish.
The top contenders are Fabio Jakobsen of Deceuninck-Quick-Step (who returned to winning ways in July for the first time since suffering terrible facial injuries in a high-speed crash at last year’s Tour of Poland); Arnaud Démare of Groupama-FDJ, and Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Fenix.