Salerno survives in Nara

Cristiano Salerno (De Rosa-Stac Plastic) survived from an early breakaway to claim victory on stage two of the 2010 Tour of Japan. The Italian finished the stage four seconds clear of a fast-approaching peloton, which was led home by Team Jayco Skins' Michael Matthews, who retained the overall leader's jersey.

Japan's Shinri Suzuki (Shimano Racing) finished third on a technical 121.2km ten-lap circuit race around the Nuriome Dam in Nara.

"The peloton was very nervous at the start so I jumped out, rode well in cooperation with the other riders [in the break] and was able to finish it off," said Salerno after his win. "I'm very happy to have secured my first professional victory."

Salerno's win moved him up into second overall and he now sits nine seconds behind Matthews. Darren Lapthorne (Rapha Condor-Sharp) is third overall, five seconds further back.

"It was a really twisting, turning circuit which made it hard to keep under control for the boys," said Jayco-Skins Team Manager Brian Stephens afterwards. "But they did a great job to get Michael close enough at the end and he was coming fast but just couldn't nail the leader."

Salerno had escaped early in the race, along with Nick Aitken (Jayco-Skins), Alexandr Shushemoin (Kazakhstan) and Takashi Miyazawa (Team Nippo). As the lead group broke up in the closing circuits of the race, the increasingly anxious peloton behind was ramping up its effort to pull back the men in front.

"Nick (Aitken) got away in the early break which took the pressure off us," said Matthews. "But when he was dropped from the leaders [two laps to go] it got a bit scary until some other teams got on the front and started driving for their sprinters.

"They pulled it back to about 25 seconds and then I called up Richie [Lang] and Pat [Lane] to try close it down for me. They caught most of it and up last climb into the finish I hit it and got across to the dozen or so still in front."

Despite the concerted efforts of the peloton, they were unable to capture Salerno, who survived as last-man-standing at the finish.