Jasper Stuyven (Trek Factory Racing) entered the WorldTour ranks last year bearing the reputation of a Classics star in the making, and he showcased many of the traits necessary for success in April en route to his first professional victory on stage 8 of the Vuelta a España.
Still only 23 years of age, Stuyven picked himself up from a crash, thrashed out an on-the-hoof working alliance with a rival team and then unleashed a powerful finishing sprint to claim the win: the blend of resolve and cunning associated with wins in Meerbeke in years past, rather than in Murcia.
"I don’t know how or who or what but I saw bikes flying in the air, and I realised immediately that I wasn’t going to avoid this: sometimes you just know," Stuyven said of his involvement in the mass crash that struck the peloton with 50 kilometres to race.
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"I hit someone and stumbled over my bike, and I landed pretty badly on my wrists. They still hurt quite a lot now but I just jumped on the bike, because after a crash you’re full of adrenaline and you chase back. Then the pain starts to come."
Dan Martin, Tejay van Garderen, Kris Boeckmans and Nacer Bouhanni were all forced to abandon the race due to their injuries. For his part, Stuyven knew he was able to continue in the race, but he still didn’t know if he would be able to contest the win as he faced into two ascents of Alto de la Cresta del Gallo in quick succession in the finale.
His team later confirmed that Stuyven had suffered a fractured scaphoid bone in his hand in the crash.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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