Philipsen claims Vuelta stage eight with sprint finish
Jasper Philipsen sprinted to stage nine victory at the Vuelta a Espana on Saturday to secure a second triumph in this year's race after he claimed an opening-day win.
The Belgian Alpecin-Deceuninck rider edged out Elia Viviani on the line, with Ethan Vernon completing the podium.
Torstein Traen held onto the overall leader's red jersey for a third stage, two-and-a-half minutes ahead of race favourite Jonas Vingegaard.
😍 Take a look at the stage 8⃣ standings:
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) August 30, 2025
¡Estas son las clasificaciones de la etapa 8⃣!#LaVuelta25 pic.twitter.com/53BsMmwLX1
The flat 163km run from Monzon Templario to Zaragoza was ideal for the sprinters after two days in the mountains.
John Bou, Jose Luis Faura and local favourite Sergio Samitier made an early move and were allowed up the road by the peloton on a warm day in north-east Spain.
Fighting against a headwind on exposed roads, the race moved slowly, playing against the chances of the early breakers.
The peloton caught the break with 17 kilometres remaining and it left the fastest riders to duke it out, with Philipsen triumphing and Lotto's Italian veteran Viviani a fraction behind.
"We lost my teammate, I think he did an incredible lead-out again but he was not there, and I tried to communicate, but it's difficult in the last kilometre," said Philipsen.
"I had to find my way, take a bit of extra wind, and really come late because my legs were concrete. But I just managed to win, so I'm really happy, and the effort of the team has not been for nothing."
On Sunday, a hilly stage nine takes riders 195.5 kilometres from Alfaro to the Valdezcaray ski resort.
STAGE 8 WINNERS
1. Jasper Philipsen (BEL) Alpecin - Deceuninck 3:43:48
2. Elia Viviani (ITA) Lotto "
3. Ethan Vernon (GBR) Israel - Premier Tech "
4. Arne Marit (BEL) Intermarché - Wanty "
5. Anders Foldager (DEN) Team Jayco AlUla "
6. Bryan Coquard (FRA) Cofidis "
7. Madis Mihkels (EST) EF Education - EasyPost "
8. Thibaud Gruel (FRA) Groupama - FDJ "
9. Fabio Christen (SUI) Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team "
10. Ben Turner (GBR) INEOS Grenadiers "
11. Mads Pedersen (DEN) Lidl - Trek "
12. David González (ESP) Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team "
13. Ivo Oliveira (POR) UAE Team Emirates - XRG "
14. Tim van Dijke (NED) Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe "
15. Thomas Silva (URU) Caja Rural - Seguros RGA "
16. Gianmarco Garofoli (ITA) Soudal Quick-Step "
17. Edward Planckaert (BEL) Alpecin - Deceuninck "
18. Léandre Lozouet (FRA) Arkéa - B&B Hotels "
19. Pierre Thierry (FRA) Arkéa - B&B Hotels "
20. Stanislaw Aniolkowski (POL) Cofidis "
OVERALL LEADERS
1. Torstein Træen (NOR) Bahrain Victorious 29:01:50
2. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) Team Visma - Lease a Bike +2:33
3. João Almeida (POR) UAE Team Emirates - XRG +2:41
4. Giulio Ciccone (ITA) Lidl - Trek +2:42
5. Lorenzo Fortunato (ITA) XDS Astana Team +2:47
6. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Team Visma - Lease a Bike +2:49
7. Jai Hindley (AUS) Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe +2:53
8. Giulio Pellizzari (ITA) Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe "
9. Egan Bernal (COL) INEOS Grenadiers +2:55
10. Felix Gall (AUT) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team +2:58
11. Tom Pidcock (GBR) Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team +3:03
12. Marc Soler (ESP) UAE Team Emirates - XRG +3:04
13. Matthew Riccitello (USA) Israel - Premier Tech +3:20
14. Sepp Kuss (USA) Team Visma - Lease a Bike +3:38
15. Raúl García (ESP) Arkéa - B&B Hotels +3:39
16. Bruno Armirail (FRA) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team +3:40
17. Ben O'Connor (AUS) Team Jayco AlUla +3:53
18. Junior Lecerf (BEL) Soudal Quick-Step +4:15
19. Jefferson Cepeda (ECU) Movistar Team +4:28
20. Santiago Buitrago (COL) Bahrain Victorious +4:36
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