Valverde outsprints Freire in Viana

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Race leader Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) won his second stage at the Tour of the Basque country, outsprinting Oscar Freire (Rabobank) and Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre) in Viana. While yesterday's sprint between Valverde and Freire resulted in the relegation of the Rabobank rider for deviating from his line, today's finale was devoid of controversy with Freire unable to come around Valverde in the closing metres.

With the stage victory, Valverde remains in the overall race lead.

The stage had earlier been shaped by a long three-man breakaway, including Michael Rogers (HTC-Columbia), Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Jose Alberto Benitez (Footon-Servetto). They jumped away over the over the top of the Alto de Humaran, the first climb of the stage after 20 kilometres, and the bunch let them quickly open a gap.

Of the three, Benitez was, surprisingly, the best placed overall, 2:40 behind Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne), with Rogers and Txurruka both at 9:08.

Txurruka took the climber's points on the climbs as the three worked together and extended their lead to a maximum of 7:30.

The gap only began to fall on the tough second category Alto de Aldea climb, as a strong wind began to hurt the trio up front. Garmin and Rabobank also began to help Caisse d'Epargne, reducing the gap to 4:50. Benitez lost contact on the climb and so did Txurruka, before the latter re-joined Rogers.

The wind made the turbines on the hills turn at speed and also caused problems in the bunch. After the Aguilar de Codes climb and a passage through the finish line with 42 kilometres to go, a strong cross wind split the bunch into two echelons, causing panic amongst the riders as Rabobank showed their echelon experience.

The bunch came back together and began the final pursuit of Rogers and Txurruka. The gap came down rapidly and the race came back together with just less than 30 kilometres to go.

With the peloton back together the stampede into Viana saw a rapid reduction in the distance to go - several teams taking turns keeping the pace high. Saxo Bank, RadioShack, Garmin were all prominent at the front as the race closed rapidly on 10 kilometres to go.

A rise in the road sparked two changes in the race situation. Lampre and Columbia massed at the front, but Angel Gomez Marchante (Andalucia-Cajasur) had other ideas entirely as he launched a bold solo move on the slopes of the Category 3 Bargota.

Marchante's gap opened enough for Linus Gerdemann (Milram) to see some worth in bridging across. Behind the pair, the peloton was fracturing despite the relatively moderate gradient of the climb. The start of the descent saw a change in the composition of the front pairing as Marchante gave way to Carlos Barredo (Quick Step).

Alas, the downhill run gave the peloton the momentum they needed and the escape was cancelled with five kilometres to go. Eduard Vorganov (Katusha) took the banner overhead as a cue to launch his bid for stage glory. The Russian opened a 50 metre gap, but just a kilometre later his attack had also been neutralized.

Caisse d'Epargne immediately took control of the run towards the final three kilometres as they sought to protect the race leader, Valverde. With two kilometres to go Bradley Wiggins (Sky) had a dig, taking Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions) and Rigoberto Uran (Caisse d'Epargne).

The trio entered the final kilometre with an advantage as Wiggins gritted his teeth and held the gap at 50 metres. Hesjedal came to the front in time to lead through the right hand turn into the uphill finish. Unfortunately for the Canadian, the line was too far away and he was forced to lead out Wiggins and Uran. Wiggins, exhausted from his earlier effort, could do little as Uran surged past him on his right hand side.

But on the other side of the road Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) was getting busy with his sprint, Oscar Freire (Rabobank) on his wheel. Uran looked across in time to see his team captain streak past and take victory by half a bike length over Freire.

Valverde and Freire shook hands immediately after the stage, a sign that Freire's relegation on stage one hasn't led to any grudge.