Freire flys into Córdoba

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Óscar Freire (Rabobank) proved the potency of his sprint finish as he snatched victory at the second stage of the Ruta del Sol in Córdoba on Monday.

The former three-time World Champion avoided a crash in sight of the finish line to take his second win of the 2010 season. He also won the second race of the Challenge Ciclista a Mallorca earlier in the month.

Robert Wagner (Skil-Shimano) thought he'd won the stage but began celebrating too early and Freire won it with a perfectly timed throw at the line. World Madison Champion and recent Copenhagen six-day winner Alex Rasmussen (Saxo Bank) was third in an impressive result for the Danish track star.

Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) was fourth in his first race of the 2010 season. Francisco Ventoso (Andalucía-CajaSur) finished fifth in the well attended sprint finale.

Stage one winner Sergio Pardilla (Carmiooro NGC) stayed out of trouble to maintain his overall race lead.

Crash catches Gerdemann and Cunego

On a gusty day in southern Spain, a barrier along the finish straight was blown into the path of the peloton in the final 500 metres. Half a dozen riders were unlucky to be caught up in the crash caused by the wayward infrastructure.

For the second time in as many days, Linus Gerdemann (Milram) found himself lying on the road as he was caught up the late-race pile up. While the German walked away relatively unscathed, Damiano Cunego (Lampre Farnese-Vini), who was also involved in the incident, appeared to be in some discomfort has he nursed his right forearm as he crossed the line.

Two other riders, Jelle Vanendert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) and Laurens Ten Dam (Rabobank), were taken to hospital immediately after the crash and it appears unlikely that either will return to the race.

Polish riders Tomasz Kiendys and Sylwester Janiszewsky of the CCC Polsat Polkowice squad also came down but were able to remount their bicycles to finish the stage.

Local teams animate stage two

The 182km stage included two early time bonus sprints and a category three climb after 44km. The local Andalucía-CajaSur riders were the first to attack and it was Jesus Rosendo who got away alone after forming part of an initial move with Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil) and Garikoitz Bravo (CajaRural).

Rosendo opened a four-minute gap but with Carmiooro leading the chase and the wind blowing hard, he was eventually caught after 100km.

The wind kept the bunch together and deterred any attacks in the second half of the race until Rabobank hit the front with 25km to go. Other teams also began to set up their sprinters, with HTC-Columbia, Milram and Lampre-Farnese Vini taking turns on the front.

HTC-Columbia took over in the final 15km. Michael Rogers was detached from his team train due to a puncture with 7km remaining, but was able to rejoin the back of the bunch in time to avoid any time penalty. In spite of the American squad's efforts to set up Cavendish for the finish, the wind and late crash disrupted the sprint.

Córdoba is proving fruitful territory for Rabobank. Freire's win emulated the success of his teammate, Lars Boom, who claimed a breakaway victory into the southern Spanish city at last year's Vuelta a España.

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