Mathias Vacek keeps white jersey despite collision with spectator: "It’s a bit annoying that some people just don’t care and don’t let the riders pass"

Mathias Vacek impressed with second time in the opening time trial of Vuelta a Espana, which granted him the privilege of riding around in the White jersey. And the young Lidl-Trek rider made the headlines again in stage two as he was brought down by an inattentive bystander on last nervous climb of the stage. Naturally, brimming with emotions, Vacek had a few choice words towards this "fan". But afterwards he jumped back on his bike and managed to catch up to the front group.

"I crashed on the last climb with 20km to go. Just some fans standing on the road. They touched me and I came down. It’s a bit annoying that some people just don’t care and don’t let the riders pass with some space, but that’s how it is. I came safe into the finish and I’m happy that I’m OK."

"I needed to do a big effort to come back to the group, but I still could make it in such a good time and I could recover a bit. But I didn’t have the power anymore for the finish. It is how it is. For sure, I wanted to fight for the Red Jersey also at the finish and to do a good result, but with the crash and the effort I needed to put in, I didn’t have the legs anymore. I’m happy that I could at least keep the white jersey."

Wout Van Aert jumps into the red jersey after today's stage, moving Vacek down a spot into third overall with five-second disadvantage on the Belgian.