Sam Bennett is back with a big win on stage 2 at La Vuelta

Sam Bennett ended his sprint drought with another grand tour stage victory, clocking up success on the first sprint stage of the Vuelta a España on Saturday

The Irishman had a perfect leadout from his Bora-Hansgrohe team and finished half a length clear of Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segefredo) second, and Tim Merlier (Alpecin-Deceuninck) third, in Utrecht.

A five man breakaway including Jetse Bol (Burgos-BH), Xabier Mikel Azparren (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Julius van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost), Pau Miquel (Equipo Kern Pharma) and Thibault Guernalec (Arkéa Samsic) attacked. Van den Berg grabbed the KOM points from the breakaway to grab the KOM jersey.

The breakaway was caught with 589 km to go,  shortly afterwards Luis Ángel Maté went on the attack to give Euskaltel some more exposure, but was eventually reeled in with 29 kilometers to go as the teams battled for the intermediate sprint, where Mads Pedersen crossed the line first.

A couple of crashes disrupted the calmness in the peloton, however a bunch sprint was definately on in the final kilometers.

Teammate Danny van Poppel thrived in the leadout, delivering Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe)to his biggest win of the season. He beat Mads Pedersen second, and Tim Merlier finishing third.

Stage 3 on is a stage to and from Breda, a completely 193.2 km flat stage with a guaranteed sprint to the finish-line. The riders will pedal through a terrain more reminiscent of the Classic races of the North,not the Spanish roads La Vuelta is accustomed to. This factor may create some tense moments in the peloton.

VIDEO: 2022 La Vuelta Stage 2 Highlights

2022 La Vuelta Stage 2 Top 10

1 BENNETT Sam BORA - hansgrohe 3:49:34
2 PEDERSEN Mads Trek - Segafredo 0:00
3 MERLIER Tim Alpecin-Deceuninck 0:00
4 TEUNISSEN Mike Jumbo-Visma 0:00
5 ACKERMANN Pascal UAE Team Emirates 0:00
6 MCLAY Daniel Team Arkéa Samsic 0:00
7 EINHORN Itamar Israel - Premier Tech 0:00
8 STEWART Jake Groupama - FDJ 0:00
9 DEGENKOLB John Team DSM 0:00
10 GROVES Kaden Team BikeExchange - Jayco 0:00

2022 La Vuelta GC after Stage 2

1 TEUNISSEN Mike Jumbo-Visma 4:14:14
2 AFFINI Edoardo Jumbo-Visma 0:04
3 OOMEN Sam Jumbo-Visma 0:04
4 EVENEPOEL Remco Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team 0:14
5 HAYTER Ethan INEOS Grenadiers 0:16
6 CARAPAZ Richard INEOS Grenadiers 0:17
7 SIVAKOV Pavel INEOS Grenadiers 0:17
8 VAN WILDER Ilan Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team 0:18
9 GROVES Kaden Team BikeExchange - Jayco 0:31
10 PEDERSEN Mads Trek - Segafredo 0:33