The Dutchman showed the T-Rex Quick-Step jersey in the breakaway on the opening stage of the race.
The final Grand Tour of the season got underway from Torino, with a stage that had one classified climb on its route, but which should end up in a bunch sprint after almost 187 kilometers. A city with a long and rich history, dating back to Roman times, Torino played an important role in the Italian unification, and later served as the country’s first capital, between 1861 and 1865.
Known also for its beautiful architecture, automotive industry, vibrant cultural scene and tradition in chocolate making, Torino got to host the sixth foreign start in the history of La Vuelta, and Grand Tour debutant Pepijn Reinderink was among the first riders to animate the race. The 23-year-old attacked in the opening kilometers and booked a place in a six-man breakaway that went on to fight for the KOM points on La Serra and the intermediate sprint in Valdengo.
Reinderink won the latter thanks to a powerful attack and and took six bonus seconds before the bunch ramped up the pace and brought them back with 80 kilometers to go. Those bonifications helped the Dutchman slot into third overall at the end of the stage won by Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), just four seconds from the red jersey.
“It was nice being in the breakaway as I got a taste of Grand Tour racing. I was hoping to win the KOM, but the fact I took those bonus seconds still makes me happy because it put me into third place on the general classification. It’s a good start and you can be sure that we’ll keep trying in the next stages”, Pepijn explained at the finish in Novara.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
