Jasper Philipsen Clinches Victory in Opening Stage of 2025 Vuelta a España
Belgian sprinter Jasper Philipsen powered to victory in the thrilling opening stage of the 2025 Vuelta a España on Saturday, launching an impressive sprint finish to claim the first red jersey of the race
The 186.1km stage began in sunny Turin, marking the start of the iconic 21-day Grand Tour which kicks off with four stages in Italy before moving to Spain.
Philipsen, riding for Alpecin, dominated the final sprint through the flat and windless plains of the Po Valley, crossing the finish line in Novara ahead of British rider Ethan Vernon of IPT and Venezuelan Orluis Aular of Movistar. The win follows Philipsen’s earlier success in the Tour de France, where he also claimed the opening stage and wore the yellow jersey. “It’s an incredible feeling to start the Vuelta with a win and wear the red jersey,” Philipsen said. “The team gave me perfect support, and I’m ready to fight hard in the stages ahead.”
The day’s route included a single categorized climb, a 6.4km ascent at 5.3 percent incline, where Arkea’s Italian Alessandro Verre secured the first mountains jersey. This opening stage set the tone for a challenging race, with Sunday’s 160km second stage promising intense competition. The route will culminate in a demanding 10km climb to the ski resort of Limone, sitting at 1385 meters altitude, where general classification contenders like Jonas Vingegaard and Juan Ayuso are expected to battle fiercely.
Turin continues to establish itself as a key cycling city, hosting three Grand Tour starts in just 18 months. After welcoming the Tour de France in 2024 and the Giro d’Italia in 2025, the city now proudly kicked off the Vuelta a España today. This year’s race will feature 10 summit finishes, each with over 3000m of vertical gain, promising a spectacular and mountainous Grand Tour.