Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe), who had talked before the Vuelta a España about needing to "find himself" as a bunch sprinter, fit a big piece of the puzzle on Saturday, taking his first Grand Tour stage win in nearly two years. [He saw off strong sprinters such as former world champion Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) and Belgian national champion Tim Merlier (Alpecin-Phoenix) while sitting in the green jersey of the points leader, his other goal in the Vuelta, Bennett told reporters, "This should be a turning point."

Bennett's season, and the past year and a half, has been a roller coaster ride: he helped his team win the GP Eschborn-Frankfurt in May, but was plagued by injuries and the departure of his former team, Detunink-Quick Step, and in July Tour de France, he missed out for the second year in a row.

Even after winning the second stage of the Vuelta, Bennett still doubted whether he had reached full form, instead complimenting his teammates for "really making a difference today." But as a step in the right direction, Saturday's win was a big one by all accounts.

"I'm almost back, but I think this Vuelta is the key to getting back to the top level," Bennett said. 'This is where you get to race hard, go deep, get your strength back, and be really consistent. We're almost there, but this should be the turning point."

Saturday's dash for the finish line was not a straightforward affair, with several different teams competing. It's good to get the first win early because it takes some of that pressure off us."

"It's a good thing that we've got the first win early.

As Bennett said earlier in the week that his own great form had not yet arrived, he nevertheless defined the second stage as "one of those days where everything went well" and said that teamwork was the difference between success and failure.

"In the crosswinds the GC riders worked for me, and in the middle Jonas [Koch], Wilco [Kelderman] and Ryan Mullen especially worked for me.

"I don't know how Danny finds the gaps, but he has never been wrong yet. I don't know how Danny finds the gaps, but he's never been wrong yet.

Bennett's approach to the green jersey appears to be somewhat tentative, judging by his discussions with the team, but as he said after the stage win, which is his top priority, it is a matter he will discuss in more detail with the team.

"Before the race, the director came into the room and said, "What do you want from this Vuelta?" Bennett said.

"I don't know if the team expected that. But I told them I would do my best with minimal effort and they said it was totally fine, so I went into the stage with that in the back of my mind." [Bennett elaborated, "The points-prize jersey is only available after a successful stage win. [Bennett elaborated, "You can only get the points jersey after a successful stage win. But now we have a stage to consider."

As team manager Ralf Denk put it, the important point of a Vuelta stage win was exactly what the Irishman needed and deserved.

"I'm extra happy for us and for Sam," Denk told Cycling News. 'Sam had a long period of flatness and everyone on the team recognized that he had worked very hard to get back in.

"He wasn't lazy, he missed the Tour selection, but he still didn't give up and stayed motivated."

As Denk noted, Bennett not only returned from a tricky summer in the Vuelta, but "last year was also really hard for him."

"First there was the clash with Patrick [Lefebvre], then the knee injury, and starting a new season with us was not easy for him.

"He had a great win in Frankfurt, but then there was another hole.

Finally, Denk confirmed that for sprinters, an early first win almost always opens the door to further victories. 'It's like scoring the first goal in soccer. Let's see what happens with the green jersey, step by step. But the pressure is off and we could have gotten off to a much worse start for the team."