Published August 15, 2021 11:26PM
The GC hopes of Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers) and Hugh Carthy (EF Education-Nippo) took a hit on stage 2 of the Vuelta a España when the pair lost time in a late crash.
The two Englishman were caught behind a fall that happened with just over 4 km remaining on the stage to Burgos. As the incident occurred outside of 3 km to go, the pair – and others similarly caught up – were not given bunch time.
Yates crossed the line 31 seconds behind stage winner Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix) while Carthy was another seven seconds behind in a large group that also included Jack Haig (Bahrain-Victorious). Neither Yates nor Carthy appeared to be hurt in the incident.
Yates now sits 56th overall, 51 seconds behind stage 1 winner, overall leader, and two-time defending champion, Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma). Carthy, who finished third overall at last year’s Vuelta, is at 1:11 behind Roglič, in 76th place.
Bora-Hansgrohe was the team most affected by the late crash on stage 2. Three of the German team’s riders hit the tarmac: Max Schachmann, Patrick Gamper, and Jordi Meeus. “Max and Jordi do not seem to have any injuries,” a team press release explained. “Patrick, who sustained a cut, is at the hospital with our team doctor for further examinations.”
Yates and Carthy, meanwhile, will have the opportunity to move back up the GC on Monday’s stage 3 which features the Vuelta’s first uphill finish: the 7.6 km ascent of Picón Blanco, with a tough average gradient of more than 9%.