Vingegaard solos to second stage victory in Vuelta a España
# Vingegaard Shines with Second Stage Win in Vuelta a España
Jonas Vingegaard demonstrated his prowess in the Vuelta a España with a breathtaking solo victory in the ninth stage, securing his second stage win of the race. “I felt fantastic throughout the entire stage today,” Vingegaard remarked after crossing the finish line, “On the final climb, I gave the signal to my teammates to launch me. They did it in an impressive way. I’m incredibly happy to finish it off like this.”
The stage’s pivotal moment unfolded on the steep ascent to the Valdezcaray ski resort, where a breakaway of five riders was swiftly caught just before the key climb. Team Visma | Lease a Bike took charge, with support from Matteo Jorgenson and others, setting the stage for Vingegaard’s impressive attack.
“Without the work of my teammates, this wouldn’t have been possible,” stated Vingegaard, highlighting the crucial role of his team in his success. After swiftly dropping competitors like Giulio Ciccone, he forged ahead, ultimately finishing 24 seconds ahead of Thomas Pidcock and João Almeida.
With this victory, Vingegaard closed the gap in the overall standings, now just 37 seconds behind the red jersey holder Torstein Træen. “I’m very happy with that,” he commented, reflecting on his performance. He added, “It wasn’t really our plan to attack, but I had very good legs today.”
Team’s sports director, Jesper Mørkøv, expressed his pride in the team’s execution, saying, “We rode very strongly and stayed well grouped heading into the final climb. When Jonas asked to be launched, we didn’t hesitate for a second. To finish it off like this is truly impressive.”
With this stage win, Team Visma | Lease a Bike wrapped up the first week of the Vuelta with its 32nd victory of the season. Mørkøv noted, “It’s been a very good week for the team… We’ve taken two stage wins and spent several days in the red jersey. That’s fantastic,” despite the disappointment of losing teammate Axel.
### Stage Results
1. **Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)** – 04:32:10
2. **Thomas Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team)** – +00:00:24
3. **João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates – XRG)** – +00:00:24
### Overall Standings After Stage 9
1. **Torstein Træen (Bahrain – Victorious)** – 33:35:46
2. **Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)** – +00:00:37
3. **João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates – XRG)** – +00:01:15
With his recent performance, Vingegaard not only boosted his standings but also showcased his strategic racing, leaving fans eager for the upcoming stages.
