Shari Bossuyt of Belgium sprinted to victory in the second stage of the Vuelta a España on Monday, a 109.8-kilometer route from Lobios to San Cibrao das Viñas. Germany’s Franziska Koch finished second and moved into the overall leader’s jersey after the previous red jersey wearer, Noemi Rüegg, crashed out.
Bossuyt (AG Insurance-Soudal) crossed the line ahead of Koch (FDJ-SUEZ), with Koch’s French teammate Evita Muzic taking third place. Koch inherited the GC leadership after Rüegg hit the deck with 12.5 kilometers to go, taking Italian Eleonora Ciabocco with her in the spill.
Koch now leads the general classification with a total time of 5 hours, 49 minutes, and 24 seconds. Tuesday’s stage winner sits six seconds back, while Belgian star Lotte Kopecky trails by 10 seconds. One of the pre-race favorites, Dutch rider Marianne Vos, did not start Monday’s stage due to a broken collarbone sustained in a crash on Sunday.
The stage featured no categorized climbs but a sawtooth profile. Norway’s Katrine Aalerud (Uno-X) made a solo move 13 kilometers from the finish, but was reeled in with just over two kilometers to go. The sprinters’ teams then organized, and Bossuyt proved the fastest among the big names.
Tuesday’s third stage of the women’s La Vuelta runs 121 kilometers from Padrón to A Coruña, with another likely bunch finish.
**Stage 2 Results (Lobios – San Cibrao das Vinhas, 109.8 km):**
1. Shari Bossuyt (BEL/AGS) – 2h 55:50 (avg. 37.6 km/h)
2. Franziska Koch (GER/FDJ – SUEZ) – same time
3. Évita Muzic (FRA/FDJ – SUEZ) – s.t.
4. Letizia Paternoster (ITA/MTS) – s.t.
5. Sarah Van Dam (CAN/TVL) – s.t.
**General Classification after Stage 2:**
1. Franziska Koch (GER/FDJ – SUEZ) – 5h 49:24
2. Shari Bossuyt (BEL/AGS) – + 6″
3. Lotte Kopecky (BEL/DLT) – + 10″
4. Évita Muzic (FRA/FDJ – SUEZ) – + 12″
5. Loes Adegeest (NED/TFS) – + 14″