Jasper Philipsen Claims Stage Eight Victory in Tight Vuelta Finish
Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen narrowly won stage eight of the Vuelta a España, finishing just ahead of Elia Viviani and Ethan Vernon in a close sprint finish, while Torstein Træen held on to the leader’s jersey.
Viviani’s team positioned him for the final push in the last 1,000 meters of the 163-kilometer flat route from Monzón to Zaragoza, but Philipsen, who had also taken the first stage, surged forward in the closing moments to secure the win.
An early breakaway trio of Sergio Samitier, Joan Bou, and José Luis Faura built a four-minute advantage after 20 kilometers but were caught with 17 kilometers remaining, leading to a fast finale.
Træen of Bahrain Victorious continues to lead the general classification, maintaining a 2-minute 33-second gap over Jonas Vingegaard with 13 stages left in the race.
Philipsen acknowledged struggling in the final stretch. "I lost contact with my team in the last kilometer and had to push through the wind myself," he said. "My legs felt heavy, but I timed it right and took the win. Every victory in a Grand Tour matters—it’s hard-earned, especially after tough mountain stages. This makes the rest of the Vuelta a little easier to face."
The victory, Philipsen’s 15th in a Grand Tour, moved him closer to points leader Mads Pedersen, now just 12 points behind. Britain’s Oliver Knight withdrew due to illness, and George Bennett also left the race.
The Vuelta continues Sunday with a 195-kilometer hilly stage from Alfaro to Valdezcaray.
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