Andreas Kron pays tribute to Tijl De Decker with rain-soaked stage victory at Vuelta a Espana

Lotto Dstny’s Andreas Kron Triumphs in Dramatic Vuelta a Espana Stage Two

Andreas Kron of Lotto Dstny emerged victorious in an emotionally charged stage two of the Vuelta a Espana despite challenging weather conditions.

The 181.8km stage was heavily affected by rain, resulting in the general classification times being taken nine km from the finish line in Barcelona.

Javier Romo of Astana and EF Education-Easy Post rider Andrea Piccolo were locked in a tight battle for the leader’s red jersey at that point, with Piccolo narrowly maintaining his advantage.

However, it was on the ascent of Montjuic that Kron made his move towards victory.

In a touching tribute to his late teammate Tijl De Decker, who tragically passed away following a training crash earlier this week, Kron pointed to the sky as he crossed the finish line.

“The team is going through an incredibly difficult time and I want to dedicate this win to Tijl De Decker,” expressed Kron after securing his triumph at 25 years old.

Kron finished seven seconds ahead of Kaden Groves from Alpecin-Deceuninck and AG2R Citroen’s Andrea Vendrame respectively on the wet roads.

Weather Woes for Top Contenders as Vuelta Continues

The inclement weather proved challenging for overall race favorites as they focused on safely navigating through treacherous conditions rather than vying for stage victory.

Defending champion Remco Evenepoel faced an early puncture but displayed resilience to rejoin the peloton. Meanwhile, British rider Geraint Thomas and three-time winner Primoz Roglic both experienced crashes before making their way back into contention.

The Wet Saga of Vuelta a Espana’s Start

The start of the Vuelta a Espana has been marred by soggy weather conditions. The opening time trial in Barcelona took place amidst torrential rain, resulting in several falls by riders as darkness descended upon them during their runs.