For the second consecutive stage, Alvaro Hodeg was in the mix at the Vuelta a San Juan.
If one thing is certain after the first two stages of the South American event, is that Pieter Serry is one of the race’s MVPs. The 31-year-old Belgian, now into his tenth pro season, resumed duties and worked tirelessly for the Wolfpack as soon as the stage rolled out from Pocito, where it also concluded after 168.7 rather quiet kilometers, some three and a half hours later.
Pieter’s phenomenal contribution at the front of the peloton, where he moved minutes after an eight-man breakaway formed, meant that the advantage of those in the lead didn’t exceed two minutes at any time during the stage and they could easily be brought back by the bunch. On the straight roads of Pocito, the Deceuninck – Quick-Step train assembled and it included Julian Alaphilippe, Zdenek Stybar and new addition Bert Van Lerberghe, but unfortunately their work didn’t come to fruition, as Alvaro Hodeg was boxed in just as he was preparing to kick off with 200 meters to go.
The young Colombian finished in tenth place and is the team’s best placed rider in the Vuelta a San Juan general classification, which is still very tight, as the only differences so far have come as result of the bonus seconds awarded on the first two stages.
Photo credit: ©Maximiliano Blanco/ Getty Images
