In the opening stage of the Spanish stage race, five riders quickly formed the early breakaway. The leaders built a gap of more than four minutes but did not play a decisive role in the battle for the stage win.

During the hectic finale, the yellow-and-black team stayed grouped near the front. Jonas Vingegaard demonstrated that he had carried his good form into the race, riding strongly in the final kilometers. The 29-year-old Dane finished in the first group, in the same time as the stage winner.

“Our goal today was to get Jonas safely to the finish,” reflected team director Marc Reef. “We were well-positioned at the key points, which allowed us to stay alert at the front in the finale. In the final kilometers, Jonas held his position well and didn’t lose any time. It was a good day.”

Vingegaard himself looks ahead to the rest of the race with confidence: “I’m really looking forward to this week. The field is very strong, but I feel ready. There are tough stages all week, with the final weekend being especially challenging. It would be great to be able to fight for the win this week.”