Sam Bennett wins sprint in Utrecht to take second stage of Vuelta a España 2022

Bora Hansgrohe's Irish sprint specialist Sam Bennett edged out his rivals in a closely contested sprint finish in Utrecht to claim the win on the second stage of the road cycling 2022 Vuelta a España on Saturday (20 August).

Bennett reigned supreme to clinch a statement win, his first victory in a stage race since leaving his previous Quick Step team at the end of last season. Among those he beat at the line was Mads Pedersen, the 2019 world champion who had taken the race's first intermediate sprint earlier in the race to open the points jersey chase; Pedersen finished second on the stage to go level with Bennett on 50 points although the Irishman will wear the green jersey by virtue of having won the stage.

The peloton took on a 175.1km (108.8mi) flat course from 's-Hertogenbosch to Utrecht, although the riders did have to contend with some crosswinds. The day's early breakaway made it until it was caught with 60km remaining.

EF Education-EasyPost's Julius van den Berg was the first over the day's only categorised climb to take the lead in the polka dot jersey mountains classification, while the key contenders avoided a late crash to make it home safely. The overall lead passed from Robert Gesink to his Jumbo-Visma teammate Mike Teunissen, with three-time defending champion Primoz Roglic fourth overall on the same time.

Sunday's third and final stage on Dutch soil will be a 193.5km trek that both starts and ends in Breda, before a transfer day back to Spain.

READ MORE: Vuelta a España 2022 preview

Vuelta a España 2022 results: Stage 2 - 's-Hertogenbosch to Utrecht, 175.1km - Saturday 20 August

1. Sam Bennett (IRL / Bora-Hansgrohe), 3:49:34
2. Mads Pedersen (DEN / Trek-Segafredo), same time
3. Tim Merlier (BEL / Alpecin-Deceuninck), same time
4. Mike Teunissen (NED / Jumbo-Visma), same time
5. Pascal Ackermann (GER / UAE Team Emirates), same time

Vuelta a España 2022: General classification standings after Stage 2 - Saturday 20 August

1. Mike Teunissen (NED / Jumbo-Visma), 4:14:14
2. Edoardo Affini (ITA / Jumbo-Visma), same time
3. Sam Oomen (NED / Jumbo-Visma), same time
4. Primoz Roglic (SLO / Jumbo-Visma), same time
5. Sepp Kuss (USA / Jumbo-Visma), +0:04

Stage-by-stage winners of the 2022 Vuelta a España

• Stage 1: 19 August, Utrecht to Utrecht (team time trial, 23.3km) – Won by Jumbo-Visma, Robert Gesink (Jumbo-Visma) takes overall leader's red jersey
• Stage 2: 20 August, 's-Hertogenbosch to Utrecht (175.1km) – Won by Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe), Mike Teunissen (Jumbo Visma) takes overall lead
• Stage 3: 21 August, Breda to Breda (193.5km)
• Rest Day 1: 22 August (transfer day)
• Stage 4: 23 August, Vitoria-Gasteiz to Laguardia (152.5km)
• Stage 5: 24 August, Irún to Bilbao (187.2km)
• Stage 6: 25 August, Bilbao to Ascensión al Pico Jano, San Miguel de Aguayo (181.2km)
• Stage 7: 26 August, Camargo to Cistierna (190km)
• Stage 8: 27 August, La Pola Llaviana/Pola de Laviana to Colláu Fancuaya, Yernes y Tameza (153.4km)
• Stage 9: 28 August, Villaviciosa to Les Praeres, Nava (171.4km)
• Rest Day 2: 29 August
• Stage 10: 30 August, Elche to Alicante (time trial, 30.9km)
• Stage 11: 31 August, ElPozo Alimentación, Alhama de Murcia to Cabo de Gata (191.2km)
• Stage 12: 1 September, Salobreña to Peñas Blancas, Estepona (192.7km)
• Stage 13: 2 September, Ronda to Montilla (168.4km)
• Stage 14: 3 September, Montoro to Sierra de la Pandera (160.3km)
• Stage 15: 4 September, Martos to Sierra Nevada, Alto Hoya de la Mora, Monachil (152.6km)
• Rest Day 3: 5 September
• Stage 16: 6 September, Sanlúcar de Barrameda to Tomares (189.4km)
• Stage 17: 7 September, Aracena to Monasterio de Tentudía (162.3km)
• Stage 18: 8 September, Trujillo to Alto de Piornal (192km)
• Stage 19: 9 September, Talavera de la Reina to Talavera de la Reina (138.3km)
• Stage 20: 10 September, Moralzarzal to Puerto de Navacerrada (181km)
• Stage 21: 11 September, Las Rozas to Madrid, Paisaje de la Luz (96.7km)