'It's beautiful to compete with the big sprinters, I wish they were here'

Lack of sprint stars doesn't make the Vuelta a España sprint finishes any less challenging, say riders

(Image credit: Yuzuru SUNADA)

The level remains high and the sprints stay difficult, say the Vuelta a España's competitors, despite the lack of top stars like Mark Cavendish and Marcel Kittel. Some, however, wish the big names had come to Spain.

After starting yesterday, the race sped into Baiona on Spain's northwest coast where Belgian Gianni Meersman (Etixx–Quick-Step) won.

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Gregor Brown