photo credits @ Team Sky
Mikel Landa (Sky) claimed stage 2 of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco today, after attacking his rivals alongside Wilco Kellerman (LottoNL-Jumbo), with 100 meters to go during the day’s final climb.
Meanwhile, fellow teammate, Sergio Henao, managed to launch clear of the group as well, to take third spot on the podium.
As a result of today’s victory, Landa moved up into the overall race lead by one second ahead of Kelderman.
Race Highlights
It wasn’t until after 30 kilometers of racing, that a small group of four riders succeeded in riding clear.
However, of that quartet, only Stefan Denifil (IAM Cycling) and Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) managed to remain out front.
From there, the duo would maintain a modest lead of about three minutes over the peloton, until the were caught with just 8 kilometers to go.
From that point on, Team Sky did most of the pacesetting at the front of the peloton, while Orica-GreenEdge, Lotto Soudal and Katusha did some work as well.
The next decisive move came from AG2R-La Mondiale’s Blel Kadri, who attacked along the start of the final climb.
However, Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo) quickly came to the fore during the final kilometer and a half, while Mikel Landa was quick to follow his move.
The duo continued making their way up the incredibly steep 18% sections, while steadily increasing their lead into a small gap of just under 20 seconds.
Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida), along with Alberto Contador (Tinkoff), Sammy Sanchez (BMC), Sergio Henao and Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha), tried in earnest to reel back Landa and Kelderman during the closing 700 meters, but the sustained, steep gradients kept them from making up lost ground on the duo.
Landa would then attack Kelderman during the final bend to claim the stage honors by a mere second over his rival.
Stage 2 Results ESP 1 LANDA MEANA, Mikel (SKY) 4:43:17 NED 2 KELDERMAN, Wilco (LOTTO NL – JUMBO) + 1 COL 3 HENAO MONTOYA, Sergio Luis (SKY) + 5 ESP 4 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Samuel (BMC RACING) + 9 ESP 5 CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto (TINKOFF) + 11 FRA 6 PINOT, Thibaut (FDJ) + 13 POR 7 FARIA DA COSTA, Rui Alberto (LAMPRE – MERIDA) + 15 COL 8 QUINTANA ROJAS, Nairo Alexander (MOVISTAR) NED 9 GESINK, Robert (LOTTO NL – JUMBO) SUI 10 REICHENBACH, Sébastien (FDJ) ESP 11 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin (KATUSHA) BEL 12 VERVAEKE, Louis (LOTTO SOUDAL) ESP 13 BILBAO LOPEZ DE ARMENTIA, Pello (CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA) + 19 SLO 14 SPILAK, Simon (KATUSHA) + 20 USA 15 CRADDOCK, Lawson (CANNONDALE) + 22
General Classification after Stage 2 ESP 1 LANDA MEANA, Mikel (SKY) 8:37:38 NED 2 KELDERMAN, Wilco (LOTTO NL – JUMBO) + 1 COL 3 HENAO GOMEZ, Sebastian (SKY) + 5 ESP 4 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Samuel (BMC RACING) + 9 ESP 5 CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto (TINKOFF) + 11 FRA 6 PINOT, Thibaut (FDJ) + 13 POR 7 FARIA DA COSTA, Rui Alberto (LAMPRE – MERIDA) + 15 COL 8 QUINTANA ROJAS, Nairo Alexander (MOVISTAR) NED 9 GESINK, Robert (LOTTO NL – JUMBO) SUI 10 REICHENBACH, Sébastien (FDJ) ESP 11 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin (KATUSHA) BEL 12 VERVAEKE, Louis (LOTTO SOUDAL) SLO 13 SPILAK, Simon (KATUSHA) + 20 USA 14 CRADDOCK, Lawson (CANNONDALE) + 22 ITA 15 ARU, Fabio (ASTANA)
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