Following the team time trial, the Vuelta returned to entirely Spanish soil for the second time this year. The fast men had already marked stage eight in red on their calendars. A mostly flat stage in northern Spain provided the perfect opportunity for the sprinters’ teams to take control. Immediately after the start in Monzón Templario, three Spaniards took off. The peloton kept the trio within reach, setting the stage for a sprint finish in Zaragoza. In the end, Jasper Philipsen convincingly took the win.

The Dutch formation - aiming for their fifth Vuelta overall victory - didn’t get involved in the sprint and got through the day safely. “We can be very satisfied with that”, sports director Jesper Mørkøv says. “The expected echelons didn’t form, so we were able to save some energy once again.”

“The teamwork within the squad was once again flawless. Jonas was very well positioned at the finish in Zaragoza”, Mørkøv concludes. The Vuelta heads back into the mountains tomorrow. After a flat approach, the stage finishes at Estación de Esquí de Valdezcaray - a first-category climb - the day before the rest day.