Stage 2 of the Vuelta should be a day for the sprinters despite the presence of a mid-race climb and a lumpy approach to the finish.
In a field lacking a top quality sprinter the race for the win will be exciting and hectic with lesser known sprinters looking to put their name up in lights.
Who will emerge victorious from the crowd of contenders and announce themselves as a grand tour stage winner? Join The Roar to find out, with live coverage from 11.45pm (AEST).
Yesterday Team Sky took the opening stage team time trial by the barest of margins over Movistar ensuring that today Peter Kennaugh rides in the leader’s red jersey.
Team Sky will take a back seat to the teams who contain sprinters looking to take advantage of a rare sprint stage in the very mountainous 2016 Vuelta.
In the absence of Mark Cavendish, Andre Greipel, and Marcel Kittel the stage is set for the sprinters who don’t quite possess that top end speed and power needed to compete with the giants of sprinting.
The race departs today from the town of Ourense and has a nice flat approach to the only categorised climb of the day the 8km category 2 Alto Montouto which comes after approximately 70km of racing. Despite its categorisation, the climb has a very gentle gradient and tops out at only 800m.
After descending the Alto Montouto the peloton faces a lumpy approach to the finish town of Baiona with potential for cross-winds on the coast.
With no clear sprint team the approach to the finish will be a chaotic battle for front position with general classification teams looking to keep their protected men safely at the front and those with stage winning ambitions looking to place their rider in the perfect spot.
Prediciton
As there is no clear standout sprinter in the race the task of picking a winner is very difficult.
However three names that will be there when the stage is won are Gianni Meersman (Ettix Quick Step), Nikias Arndt (Giant Alpecin), and Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar).
The well drilled Ettix Quick Step team gives Meersman the edge, but the bottom line is anyone with a finishing punch has a chance today.
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Thank you for your company tonight. Join us tomorrow night for coverage of stage 3.
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Top 5 on General Classification after Stage 2: 1. Michael Kwiatkowski (Sky) 2. J.J Rojas (Movistar) 3. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) 4. Chris Froome (Sky) 5. Salvatore Puccio (Movistar)
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With his fourth placing Michal Kwiatkowski takes the leaders jersey from his teammate Peter Kennaugh.
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Top 5 on the Stage: 1. Gianni Meersman (Ettix Quickstep) 2. Michael Schwarzmann (Bora Argon 18) 3. Magnus Cort Nielsen (Orica Bike Exchange) 4. Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) 5. Jonas Van Genechten (IAM)
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Ettix played it perfectly letting Dimension Data and Giant Alpecin use up their numbers before taking over in the final 500m to deliver Meersman the decisive win.
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It was in fact Schwarzmann of Bora Argon who took second.
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Apologies it was Arndt not Drucker who took second just ahead of Magnus Cort Nielsen.
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A Direct Energie rider has fallen heavily in the straight.
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Inside 1km as Dimension Data lead it out, now Giant take over. Ettix with numbers for Meersman. Meersman takes it from a fast finishing Cort Nielsen and Drucker of BMC.
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Ettix just sitting behind with Giant Alpecin.
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Dimension Data continue to lead with 1.5km to go.
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Appeared no other riders fell but it caused gaps to form.
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Peloton negotiating roundabouts as a Katusha rider goes down.
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Giant Alpecin now take up the lead with Dimension Data 3km to go.
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Peloton is strung out as Lotto Soudal come to the front.
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5km to go and the peloton is spread across the road with Sky still holding lead position.
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Giant Alpecin has large numbers at the front.
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Sky leads the peloton with 6km to go.
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The battle is on for front position in the peloton.
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8km to the finish and the race is all together.