Lotto Dstny’s Andreas Kron took an emotional win on a weather-affected stage two of the Vuelta a Espana.
Heavy rain meant the general classification times for the 181.8km stage were taken nine km from the finish in Barcelona.
At that point, EF Education-Easy Post rider Andrea Piccolo was narrowly ahead of Astana’s Javier Romo to secure the leader’s red jersey.
But Kron went clear on the ascent of Montjuic for the stage win.
The 25-year-old pointed to the sky in celebration as he crossed the line, paying tribute to his late team-mate Tijl De Decker who died on Friday after a midweek training crash.
Kron said: “I always said I would dedicate my first win in a Grand Tour to my late mother, but the team is going through a very difficult period at the moment, so I would really like to dedicate this win to Tijl De Decker.
“My mum will have to wait a bit more, but that second win will hopefully come soon.”
Danish rider Kron finished seven seconds clear of Alpecin-Deceuninck’s Kaden Groves and Andrea Vendrame of AG2R Citroen.
With the weather taking its toll, the overall favourites for the race were happy to finish in the peloton.
Defending champion Remco Evenepoel suffered an early puncture and had to work hard to rejoin the peloton while Britain’s Geraint Thomas and three-time winner Primoz Roglic both crashed before making their way back.
It has been a soggy start to the Vuelta. Saturday’s opening time trial in Barcelona took place in torrential rain with several riders falling during their runs as darkness descended.
Stage Two results
1. Andreas Kron (Den/Lotto-Dstny) 4hrs 10mins 6secs
2. Kaden Groves (Aus/Alpecin-Deceuninck) same time
3. Andrea Vendrame (Ita/AG2R-Citroen Team) same time
4. Andrea Bagioli (Ita/Soudal-Quick-Step) same time
5. Fernando Barcelo (Spa/Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) same time
6. Ivan Garcia (Spa/Movistar Team) same time
7. Romain Gregoire (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) same time
8. Lennert Van Eetvelt (Bel/Lotto-Dstny) same time
9. Marijn van den Berg (Ned/EF Education-EasyPost) same time
10. Kobe Goossens (Bel/Intermarche-Circus-Wanty) same time
General classification after stage two
1. Andrea Piccolo (Ita/EF Education-EasyPost) 4hrs 27mins 23secs
2. Javier Romo (Spa/Astana-Qazaqstan) +11secs
3. Ivan Garcia (Spa/Movistar) +13secs
4. Romain Bardet (Fra/DSM-Firmenich) same time
5. Max Poole (GB/DSM-Firmenich) same time
6. Nelson Oliveira (Por/Movistar) same time
7. Imanol Erviti (Spa/Movistar) same time
8. Enric Mas (Spa/Movistar) same time
9. Einer Rubio (Col/Movistar) same time
10. Sean Flynn (GB/DSM-Firmenich) same time
