Control or follow the break: what will Visma do in the tricky second stage of Ruta del Sol?

The route of the Ruta del Sol doesn’t look too challenging this year, but there’s plenty for the punchers to go for. The second stage to Otura seems tailor-made for attackers. The question is what Visma | Lease a Bike will do. Will they keep things tight for leader Christophe Laporte, who could finish it off again in a sprint? Or will they get involved in shaping the race? WielerFlits looks ahead!

Route

The second stage can again create opportunities for early breakaways. They will have to be patient during the first hour, and it’s uncertain whether the sprint teams will cooperate.

If non-threatening riders are allowed to escape in the first few kilometers, the chance of a (reduced) bunch sprint in the finale increases. If there’s a fierce battle for the break of the day that only goes clear on the first climb, it could significantly reduce the chances for the fast men.