Belgian sprinter Jasper Philipsen won the opening stage of the Vuelta a España 2025 on Saturday, powering his way to victory in a high-speed bunch sprint.

The opening four stages of the 21-day race start in Italy, before a switch to Spain.

The Alpecin rider, who will start Sunday in the overall leader's red jersey, also won the first stage of the Tour de France in July to claim the yellow jersey.

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The 186.1-kilometer race Saturday set off from Turin in bright sunshine and 23 degrees Celsius on its way through the flat and windless plains of the Po valley and its rice paddies.

Hitting the final 2.7-kilometer run-in to Novara, Philipsen controlled the sprint as the peloton launched itself into a lengthy home straight.

He had the stage in the bag from 500 meters out but still had to hold off a superb performance from Briton Ethan Vernon of IPT, who took second. Venezuelan rider Orluis Aular of Movistar took third.

There were 10, 6 and 4 second bonus points for the top three finishers.

"Winning is always a nice feeling, and definitely when there is a reward like the red jersey," Philipsen said. "This was a nice goal, but I knew we only had one chance because there aren't many opportunities for a sprinter like me at this Vuelta."

Arkea's Italian rider Alessandro Verre took the first mountains jersey, crossing the top of the only climb of the day, a 6.4-kilometer ascent at a 5.3% incline after 64 kilometers.

Cycling fans in Turin now have been treated to a third Grand Tour in 18 months.

In 2024, it was a Tour de France arrival town, while in 2025, it has been blessed as both a Giro and a Vuelta start town.

Sunday's 160-kilometer run from Alba culminates in a 10-kilometer climb to the ski resort of Limone at 1385m altitude, with the potential for a skirmish between the GC rivals Jonas Vingegaard and Juan Ayuso.

The Limone ascent is the first of 10 summit finishes on the 2025 Vuelta, all featuring over 3000 meters of vertical gain and marking out this Grand Tour as an extremely mountainous one.

Vuelta a España 2025 Stage 1 Results – Top 25

1. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – 4:09:12 (B10)
2. Ethan Vernon (Israel - Premier Tech) – 4:09:12 (B6)
3. Orluis Alberto Aular Sanabria (Movistar Team) – 4:09:12 (B4)
4. Elia Viviani (Lotto) – 4:09:12
5. Iván García Cortina (Movistar Team) – 4:09:12
6. David González López (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) – 4:09:12
7. Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) – 4:09:12
8. Gonçalo Silva Cossan (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) – 4:09:12
9. Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) – 4:09:12
10. Madis Mihkels (EF Education - EasyPost) – 4:09:12
11. Tim van Dijke (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) – 4:09:12
12. Ben Turner (INEOS Grenadiers) – 4:09:12
13. Edward Planckaert (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – 4:09:12
14. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) – 4:09:12
15. Daniel Cavia Sanz (Burgos-BH) – 4:09:12
16. Casper van Uden (Team Picnic PostNL) – 4:09:12
17. Gianmarco Garofoli (Soudal Quick-Step) – 4:09:12
18. Stanisław Aniołkowski (Cofidis) – 4:09:12
19. Jake Stewart (Israel - Premier Tech) – 4:09:12
20. Arne Marit (Intermarché - Wanty) – 4:09:12
21. Pepijn Reinderink (Soudal Quick-Step) – 4:09:12
22. Jenthe Biermans (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) – 4:09:12
23. Axel Zingle (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – 4:09:12
24. Théo Gruel (Groupama-FDJ) – 4:09:12
25. Fabian Christen (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) – 4:09:12 

Vuelta a España 2025 Overall Standings – Top 25 After Stage 1

1. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – 4:09:02
2. Ethan Vernon (Israel - Premier Tech) – 4:09:06
3. Pepijn Reinderink (Soudal Quick-Step) – 4:09:06
4. Orluis Alberto Aular Sanabria (Movistar Team) – 4:09:08
5. Nikita Vinokurov (XDS Astana Team) – 4:09:08
6. Koen Bouwman (Team Jayco AlUla) – 4:09:10
7. Elia Viviani (Lotto) – 4:09:12
8. Iván García Cortina (Movistar Team) – 4:09:12
9. David González López (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) – 4:09:12
10. Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) – 4:09:12
11. Gonçalo Silva Cossan (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) – 4:09:12
12. Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) – 4:09:12
13. Madis Mihkels (EF Education - EasyPost) – 4:09:12
14. Tim van Dijke (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) – 4:09:12
15. Ben Turner (INEOS Grenadiers) – 4:09:12
16. Edward Planckaert (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – 4:09:12
17. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) – 4:09:12
18. Daniel Cavia Sanz (Burgos-Burpellet-BH) – 4:09:12
19. Casper van Uden (Team Picnic PostNL) – 4:09:12
20. Gianmarco Garofoli (Soudal Quick-Step) – 4:09:12
21. Stanisław Aniołkowski (Cofidis) – 4:09:12
22. Jake Stewart (Israel - Premier Tech) – 4:09:12
23. Arne Marit (Intermarché - Wanty) – 4:09:12
24. Jenthe Biermans (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) – 4:09:12
25. Axel Zingle (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – 4:09:12

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