Faulkner powers to victory for second EF-Education stage win of the week

Kristen Faulkner won EF Education-Cannondale’s second stage of the Vuelta with a brilliant last gasp solo effort on a stage that had all the hallmarks of a sprint finish.

The American was one of 19 riders to get away early on, the group littered with talent and names. But with 6KM to go on a tiny ramp, Faulkner launched an opportunistic attack that no one could live with.

The rest came together for a sprint finish for second, with Georgia Baker (Liv-AlUla-Jayco) grabbing P2 from Marianne Vos (Visma Lease a Bike), the Dutchwoman now the overall leader thanks to her third-place finish and bonus seconds gathered at the intermediate sprint.

Vos now leads Blanka Vas (SD Worx) by five seconds in the GC standings.

A flat stage but a wind swept one with echelons likely to form – the ingredients were there for nervous riders, frantic moves and plenty of drama right from the start.

That’s exactly what happened early on, with several breaks being reeled swiftly in before a group of 19 riders got away, including six from SD Worx – Demi Vollering one of them. Also in that group was Vos and Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek), but her team mate, the early red jersey wearer from Stage 1 Gaia Realini didn’t make it, which led to Lidl-Trek pulling hard at the front of the chase group.

With the kilometres ticking down, that front group were still staying away – no surprise given it was laced with talent, Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM), Georgia Baker (Liv-AlUla-Jayco) and Alison Jackson (EF Education-Cannondale) also present.

Even a brief smattering of rain with 50KM to go didn’t derail their progress, with the lead always hovering around just under the two minute mark.

There was a shock with 42KM to go as Vas dropped out of the front group, seemingly struggling with her legs. She did manage to catch back up, a bad back reportedly causing her some difficulties today. After that, it was all calm with the chase group soon realising that they were not getting back to the leaders today despite a heroic effort from Lizzie Deignan (Lidl-Trek) on the front.

The real action began at the intermediate sprint, with 12KM to go. Vos was led out and launched herself to grab six bonus seconds, Vas getting four and Longo Borghini two seconds. That put the Dutchwoman into the virtual red jersey.

There was one late kick in what was a relatively benign stage – a short, steep hill 6KM from the finish. And Faulkner used that to attack, immediately countering an attack from Vollering before launching alone. She managed to create an immediate gap, putting her head down and driving on.

Behind, Vollering, Longo Borghini, Niewiadoma and Vas couldn’t reel her in and instead were collected by the remnants of that original group, that lot coming together just before the line to sprint for the podium places.

But the stage belonged to Faulkner, who had led out her team mate Jackson so brilliantly on Stage 2. She didn’t celebrate until she was well across the line, but is now third in the overall standings, just nine seconds behind Vos.

“We came to try and win some stages and we’ve already won two, so we are so excited and proud of what we have accomplished so far,” Faulkner said afterwards.

“Fortunately Alison [Jackson] and I were in a good position and able to make the front group, it was a good day. I knew I wanted to do a last-minute attack, I knew that climb would be the place for other attacks so I thought I’d try and follow one. I just hopped onto wheels – it was a bit of luck but also planning I think.”

Tomorrow sees the race head for the mountains, which is sure to lead to a shake up of the general classification places.