"Wearing the red jersey will be incredible" - Andrea Piccolo takes over red jersey on stage 2 of Vuelta a Espana

After a rather anticlimactic opening weekend of the Vuelta a España, Andrea Piccolo is the new leader in the standings. The Italian thus succeeds his compatriot Lorenzo Milesi. The information from the organization was very scarce afterwards. Initially, there was also no certainty about the new leader in the standings

"We don't know yet either," Piccolo was still insecure afterwards in conversation with Eurosport. "But wearing the red jersey would be incredible. It was a very hard day, especially because of the rain. We nevertheless gave everything and knew that the times would be recorded at nine kilometers. That's where my race finished. I am very happy," Piccolo felt sure of the red jersey.

"We just had to try to break away, because we were only six seconds behind. In the final we went for the stage with Marijn, but we also took our chance through the breakaway. I felt very good in the breakaway. I'm just really happy," he repeats his joy.

Although it seems to be in the right direction for Piccolo, things could have turned out differently. On the way, he slid down on the slippery road surface. "I got up as quickly as possible and was able to get back to the front with the other two front riders. After that I gave everything until the last nine kilometres," Piccolo concludes.