Venezuelan cyclist Orluis Aular made history by competing for the second time in the Vuelta a España, which began with a dazzling performance by finishing third in the first stage contested this Saturday, August 23rd, over 186.7 kilometers of route, on Italian soil, from Torino to Reggia di Venaria to Novara. The victory was won by Belgian cyclist Jasper Philipsen, who became the first wearer of the leader’s jersey in the 2025 competition.
Philipsen, who had started with a victory in the traditional 2025 Tour de France, only to be forced to withdraw due to injury, returned to a victorious start in another of the great races on the European continent, the Giro d’España. The Giro began with a flat stage and thrilling final sprint, in which the Belgian demonstrated his true worth in road cycling.
For his part, the Venezuelan, who is in his second attempt at the prestigious Vuelta a España, knew how to face the challenge and make a name for himself among renowned figures in world and European cycling, securing third place in the race and creating great expectations for himself.
Last year, Orluis finished third in the individual standings in the seventh stage, and now he begins his career in the same opening event with a third place finish, which bodes well for his future. Currently, Orluis Aular is the best exponent of Venezuelan cycling worldwide. “I was very disappointed, and this was my goal, because there aren’t many sprinter stages in this Vuelta,” Philipsen told the media after becoming the first leader of the 2025 Vuelta a España.
The protagonists of the day’s breakaway, who were ultimately caught by the peloton, were Hugo de la Calle (Burgos Burpellet BH), Pepijn Reinderink (Soudal Quick-Step), Joel Nicolau (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA), Koen Bouwman (Team Jayco AlUla), Nicolás Vinokurov (XDS Astana Team), and Alessandro Verre (Arkéa – B&B Hotels), who took the mountain jersey and will wear the red polka dot jersey.
The Spanish tour will continue this Sunday with the second stage in Italy, starting in Alba and finishing in Limone Piemonte, over a 159.5-kilometer route that will feature the first mountain finish.
La Vuelta Ciclista a España (2.UWT)
Results Stage 1 | Torino-Reggia di Venaria – Novara (186,7 km)
| 1 | Jasper Philipsen | Alpecin-Deceuninck | 4:09:12 |
| 2 | Ethan Vernon | Israel-Premier Tech | m.t. |
| 3 | Orluis Aular | Movistar Team | m.t. |
| 4 | Elia Viviani | Lotto | m.t. |
| 5 | Iván García Cortina | Movistar Team | m.t. |
| 6 | David González | Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team | m.t. |
| 7 | Bryan Coquard | Cofidis | m.t. |
| 8 | Thomas Silva | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | m.t. |
| 9 | Tom Pidcock | Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team | m.t. |
| 10 | Madis Mihkels | EF Education-EasyPost | m.t. |
Source: www.diariovea.com.ve