Stage 2 of the Vuelta a Espana was one of those days where, for a long time, it felt like everyone in the peloton was simply waiting for the finale.

The opening hour was still raced at an average speed of 45 km/h, so it was hardly a Sunday ride, but once the breakaway had been established, things settled down quite quickly. Ethan Hayter, Koen Bouwman, Diego Uriarte and Sinuhe Fernandez formed the main move of the day, while the peloton never really allowed them to build a serious advantage.

Lidl-Trek and Team Visma | Lease a Bike controlled the gap and kept the four riders close enough. Lidl obviously had Mads Pedersen in mind for the finish, while Visma had more than one reason to work. They wanted a shot at the stage with Matthew Brennan or Wout van Aert, but they also had to keep an eye on Hayter.

For me, Ethan Hayter was the most interesting rider for much of the stage. He joined the breakaway after it had already formed and clearly had one specific objective: collecting the six bonus seconds at the intermediate sprint and trying to bring himself closer to the red jersey.

Once the other escapees had been caught, Hayter continued alone. On the technical descent, he did a very good job of maintaining his advantage, even with Visma and Lidl-Trek pushing behind him. At one point, it looked as though the peloton might catch him just before the sprint, but Hayter held on and took the full six seconds.

He was caught shortly afterwards, but his effort had not been wasted. He also collected points during the stage and put himself at the top of the points classification. It was a brave move and, on a day that was otherwise fairly controlled, he gave us something to follow.

Koen Bouwman also got what he wanted from the break. By taking maximum points on both climbs, he became the first leader of the mountains classification. A podium appearance secured and a successful day for him.

The real racing only started in the final 20 kilometres. The peloton came back together, the speed increased and every team suddenly wanted to ride at the front.

With several roundabouts, a narrowing road and a gently rising finish, positioning was always going to be crucial. Visma, UAE Team Emirates - XRG, Lidl-Trek, Movistar, Netcompany INEOS and Groupama-FDJ United all appeared near the front, and the bunch was completely stretched out.

Then Wout van Aert attacked with 1.8 kilometres to go. It was a proper move, and Tadej Pogacar immediately followed him. An XDS Astana rider also joined them, but the trio could not make it stick.

Still, it showed how difficult the finish was. This was not a straightforward sprint where the lead-out trains simply delivered their fast men to the final 200 metres.

In the end, Matthew Brennan was the strongest. The young Visma rider timed his effort perfectly and beat Pau Miquel, Pogacar and Pedersen to take the stage victory.

It was another reminder of just how complete Brennan already is. He survived the climbing, handled the nervous finale and still had enough speed to finish the job. Beating riders like Pogacar and Pedersen on a rising finish is never a small achievement.

Pau Miquel finishing second was probably the biggest surprise, while Pogacar once again showed that he can be involved in almost any kind of finale. Pedersen will perhaps be disappointed with fourth after Lidl-Trek worked for much of the day, but the finish was simply more chaotic than a normal bunch sprint.

Overall, this was a fairly quiet stage with a very entertaining ending. Hayter animated the middle part of the race, Van Aert and Pogacar attacked late, but Brennan had the final word. And honestly, after the way Visma controlled the day, it was probably the result they deserved

Javier Rampe from CiclismoAlDia witnessed all the drama and action unfold during the second stage of the race and said at the end of the day.

A transitional stage following an opening time-trial stage that shaped the general classification right from the start. A four-man breakaway, including Ethan Hayter, who honoured La Vuelta by giving everything he had in an attempt to take the red jersey from Tadej Pogacar.

It was not to be for the British Soudal rider, but victory did go to one of Hayter’s compatriots: Matthew Brennan. One of the brightest young talents of his generation. The versatile Visma rider was guided by the Dutch team in a surprisingly executed lead-out: surprising because they managed to pull it off despite launching Wout van Aert with two kilometres remaining. Even so, Brennan secured his first-ever Grand Tour victory at La Vuelta a España.

On the longest day of the current edition of the Spanish Grand Tour, the peloton controlled a four-man breakaway to perfection until approximately the final 30 kilometres. On days like these, when the terrain offers little more than narrow roads and the occasional short descent, there is not much to work with.

Just ask Sergio Chumil, Cian Uijtdebroeks or Sergio Samitier. Of the three, only the Guatemalan was forced to abandon the race due to severe pain in his collarbone. A real shame, because his withdrawal means the loss of a high-quality asset for the medium-mountain stages. Meanwhile, Movistar’s Belgian leader is on the verge of losing whatever confidence the team’s supporters may still have in him, if they have any left at all.

He was supposed to become the Spanish team’s leader and Enric Mas’ natural successor. Many of us even believed that he had a more attacking character than the rider from the Balearic Islands, but if he spends all day on the ground or ill, he will be able to contribute very little to a team desperately in need of UCI points through strong general-classification finishes and, even more importantly, victories.

Cian Uijtdebroeks disappoints once again with Movistar Team. Hopefully, he can lift both his own spirits and those of the fans.

Rúben Silva from CyclingUpToDate closely followed the action as the stage departed from the Principality of Monaco and shared his opinion with us at the end of the day.

A day that all-in-all, was in its majority quite dull and lacking the action. In the finale, with everyone fresh, it was the absolute opposite. I will mention at first that I am in absolutely not a fan of a full stage through French territory, at the Vuelta.

Tomorrow will be the same. The Vuelta starting in Monaco and spending two full days in France takes it out of me, so to say. There's very little immersion, it essentially has me waiting for the 'real race' to start, whilst these opening days (like we see at the Giro) are spent with no action until the very last kilometers.

Racing wise it was good to see Ethan Hayter on the move, getting himself in the day's breakaway and moving into the provisional lead after capturing a few seconds. Riders, using tactics that are in some way innovative, to improve their display or exposure in a race: That's what cycling should be, but often isn't at Grand Tours.

In classic Ethan Hayter fashion, he then didn't get to wear the red jersey, because as has been the case for years, he cannot position himself in the peloton. Because of splits that then happened on the final climb, he didn't even arrive in the second peloton.

Over at the head of the peloton, Visma had a plan. Wout Van Aert was unlikely to reach the red jersey by betting in a sprint, even if mathematically it was possible. Pogacar was too strong, Hayter supposedly was ahead... Van Aert had to attack, and did so at a pre-planned spot, catching most by surprise.

And if it hadn't been for Pogacar, he would've likely gotten away with the win. Pogacar chased him down, but that cost energy that he then lacked in the finale. But honestly, Matthew Brennan looked so incredibly strong that I don't think anyone else could've been beaten.

Mads Pedersen showing he's not in peak form, Pau Miquel getting a 2nd place that maybe won't get too much praise but is worthy of a major mention; whilst Felix Gall and João Almeida lost 18 seconds in a finale where a time loss was unnecessary.

Stage 2 will not be remembered for relentless action, but the finale delivered enough intrigue to rescue an otherwise controlled day. Ethan Hayter gave the breakaway a purpose by chasing bonus seconds, while Koen Bouwman secured the mountains jersey. Lidl-Trek and Visma kept a firm grip on the race before the pace finally exploded on the approach to Manosque.

Wout van Aert’s late attack was bold and perfectly timed, but Tadej Pogacar once again showed why he is so difficult to surprise. His immediate response ended Van Aert’s hopes of stealing both the stage and the red jersey, although that effort may have cost Pogacar in the sprint.

The final word belonged to Matthew Brennan. The young Briton remained composed throughout a chaotic final two kilometres and produced the strongest acceleration on the uphill finish. Pau Miquel’s second place was one of the performances of the day, while Mads Pedersen was unable to reward Lidl-Trek’s work. It was a quiet stage followed by a frantic finale, but Brennan’s first Grand Tour victory provided a worthy conclusion.