Freire flys into Córdoba

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.

Full Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Óscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank4:53:06
2Robert Wagner (Ger) Skil - ShimanoRow 1 - Cell 2
3Alex Rasmussen (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 2 - Cell 2
4Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 3 - Cell 2
5Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Carmiooro NGCRow 4 - Cell 2
6Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 5 - Cell 2
7Greg Henderson (NZl) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 6 - Cell 2
8Paul Martens (Ger) RabobankRow 7 - Cell 2
9Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo BankRow 8 - Cell 2
10Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Team MilramRow 9 - Cell 2
11Borut Bozic (Slo) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 10 - Cell 2
12Mirko Lorenzetto (Ita) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 11 - Cell 2
13Bartlomiej Matysiak (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 12 - Cell 2
14Markus Fothen (Ger) Team MilramRow 13 - Cell 2
15Angelo Furlan (Ita) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 14 - Cell 2
16Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 15 - Cell 2
17Javier Moreno (Spa) Andalucia - CajasurRow 16 - Cell 2
18Jesús Rosendo (Spa) Andalucia - CajasurRow 17 - Cell 2
19Egoitz García (Spa) Caja RuralRow 18 - Cell 2
20Daniel Moreno (Spa) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 19 - Cell 2
21Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 20 - Cell 2
22Greca Bole (Slo) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 21 - Cell 2
23Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team MilramRow 22 - Cell 2
24Sylwester Janiszewsky (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 23 - Cell 2
25Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 24 - Cell 2
26Christian Knees (Ger) Team MilramRow 25 - Cell 2
27Tomasz Marczynski (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 26 - Cell 2
28Aketza Peña (Spa) Caja RuralRow 27 - Cell 2
29Bauke Mollema (Ned) RabobankRow 28 - Cell 2
30Stephen Cummings (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 29 - Cell 2
31Sergio Pardilla Bellón (Spa) Carmiooro NGCRow 30 - Cell 2
32Gustav Larsson (Swe) Team Saxo BankRow 31 - Cell 2
33Albert Timmer (Ned) Skil - ShimanoRow 32 - Cell 2
34Eric Berthou (Fra) Carmiooro NGCRow 33 - Cell 2
35Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 34 - Cell 2
36Paul Voss (Ger) Team MilramRow 35 - Cell 2
37Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 36 - Cell 2
38Frank Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo BankRow 37 - Cell 2
39Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 38 - Cell 2
40Mauricio Ardila (Col) RabobankRow 39 - Cell 2
41Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) RabobankRow 40 - Cell 2
42Kjell Carlström (Fin) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 41 - Cell 2
43Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 42 - Cell 2
44Christophe Brandt (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:00:10
45Simon Gerrans (Aus) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 44 - Cell 2
46Fabricio Ferrari (Uru) Caja Rural0:00:16
47Piet Rooijakkers (Ned) Skil - ShimanoRow 46 - Cell 2
48Jose A G. Marchante (Spa) Andalucia - Cajasur0:00:19
49Angel Vicioso (Spa) Andalucia - CajasurRow 48 - Cell 2
50Adrian Honkisz (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice0:00:21
51Serge Pauwels (Bel) Sky Professional Cycling Team0:00:23
52Brice Feillu (Fra) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 51 - Cell 2
53Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 52 - Cell 2
54Manuel Ortega (Spa) Andalucia - CajasurRow 53 - Cell 2
55Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team0:00:33
56Guillermo Lana (Spa) Caja Rural0:00:40
57Kanstantsin Siutsov (Blr) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 56 - Cell 2
58André Steensen (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 57 - Cell 2
59David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 58 - Cell 2
60Diego A Tamayo Martínez (Col) Carmiooro NGCRow 59 - Cell 2
61Francis De Greef (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 60 - Cell 2
62Antonio Piedra (Spa) Andalucia - Cajasur0:00:43
63Hayden Roulston (NZl) Team HTC - Columbia0:00:44
64Simon Geschke (Ger) Skil - Shimano0:00:49
65Michael Albasini (Swi) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 64 - Cell 2
66Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 65 - Cell 2
67Alfredo Balloni (Ita) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 66 - Cell 2
68Tony Martin (Ger) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 67 - Cell 2
69Alexandre Geniez (Fra) Skil - Shimano0:01:03
70Garikoitz Bravo (Spa) Caja RuralRow 69 - Cell 2
71David De La Cruz (Spa) Caja RuralRow 70 - Cell 2
72Stephane Rossetto (Fra) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 71 - Cell 2
73Yann Huguet (Fra) Skil - ShimanoRow 72 - Cell 2
74Jan Bakelandsts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:01:09
75Lukasz Bodnar (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 74 - Cell 2
76Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini0:01:20
77Adan Snitko (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice0:01:23
78Rubén García (Spa) Caja Rural0:01:25
79Manuel Vazquez (Spa) Andalucia - CajasurRow 78 - Cell 2
80Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Rabobank0:01:31
81Emanuele Sella (Ita) Carmiooro NGC0:01:43
82Laurent Beuret (Swi) Carmiooro NGC0:01:44
83Matthias Russ (Ger) Team MilramRow 82 - Cell 2
84Tomasz Kiendys (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 83 - Cell 2
85Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) RabobankRow 84 - Cell 2
86Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 85 - Cell 2
87Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team MilramRow 86 - Cell 2
88Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 87 - Cell 2
DNSMichael Morkov (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 88 - Cell 2
Swipe to scroll horizontally
General classification after stage 2
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Sergio Pardilla Bellón (Spa) Carmiooro NGC9:05:01
2Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:00:09
3Manuel Vazquez (Spa) Andalucia - Cajasur0:00:13
4Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 3 - Cell 2
5Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank0:00:21
6Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 5 - Cell 2
7Javier Moreno (Spa) Andalucia - Cajasur0:00:28
8Daniel Moreno (Spa) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:00:29
9Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 8 - Cell 2
10Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Sky Professional Cycling Team0:00:31
11Markus Fothen (Ger) Team Milram0:00:32
12Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team HTC - Columbia0:00:37
13Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank0:00:41
14Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 13 - Cell 2
15Frank Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo BankRow 14 - Cell 2
16Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team MilramRow 15 - Cell 2
17Gustav Larsson (Swe) Team Saxo Bank0:00:49
18Stephen Cummings (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team0:01:14
19Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Team Milram0:01:19
20Tomasz Marczynski (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice0:01:20
21Mauricio Ardila (Col) Rabobank0:01:24
22Angel Vicioso (Spa) Andalucia - Cajasur0:01:26
23Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank0:01:35
24Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram0:02:00
25Alexandre Geniez (Fra) Skil - Shimano0:02:08
26Michael Albasini (Swi) Team HTC - Columbia0:02:24
27Tony Martin (Ger) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 26 - Cell 2
28Eric Berthou (Fra) Carmiooro NGC0:02:27
29Brice Feillu (Fra) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team0:02:33
30Kanstantsin Siutsov (Blr) Team HTC - Columbia0:02:43
31Jan Bakelandsts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:02:58
32Greca Bole (Slo) Lampre-Farnese Vini0:03:27
33Jose A G. Marchante (Spa) Andalucia - Cajasur0:03:34
34Aketza Peña (Spa) Caja Rural0:03:35
35Albert Timmer (Ned) Skil - Shimano0:03:38
36Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:03:41
37Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini0:04:00
38Adrian Honkisz (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice0:04:02
39Simon Geschke (Ger) Skil - ShimanoRow 38 - Cell 2
40Rubén García (Spa) Caja Rural0:04:13
41Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Milram0:04:24
42Diego A Tamayo Martínez (Col) Carmiooro NGC0:04:35
43Christophe Brandt (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:04:36
44Simon Gerrans (Aus) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 43 - Cell 2
45Serge Pauwels (Bel) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 44 - Cell 2
46Sylwester Janiszewsky (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice0:04:43
47Emanuele Sella (Ita) Carmiooro NGC0:05:03
48David De La Cruz (Spa) Caja Rural0:05:08
49Paul Voss (Ger) Team Milram0:05:09
50Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Team Saxo Bank0:05:28
51Paul Martens (Ger) Rabobank0:05:29
52Yann Huguet (Fra) Skil - ShimanoRow 51 - Cell 2
53Francis De Greef (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:05:43
54Jesús Rosendo (Spa) Andalucia - Cajasur0:05:59
55Alex Rasmussen (Den) Team Saxo Bank0:06:02
56André Steensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank0:06:08
57Bartlomiej Matysiak (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice0:06:09
58Tomasz Kiendys (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 57 - Cell 2
59Óscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank0:06:17
60Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Carmiooro NGCRow 59 - Cell 2
61Greg Henderson (NZl) Sky Professional Cycling Team0:06:22
62Mirko Lorenzetto (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini0:06:24
63Adan Snitko (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice0:06:37
64Fabricio Ferrari (Uru) Caja Rural0:06:40
65Manuel Ortega (Spa) Andalucia - CajasurRow 64 - Cell 2
66Piet Rooijakkers (Ned) Skil - Shimano0:06:57
67Antonio Piedra (Spa) Andalucia - Cajasur0:07:00
68David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Farnese Vini0:07:04
69Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team0:07:19
70Hayden Roulston (NZl) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 69 - Cell 2
71Borut Bozic (Slo) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team0:07:21
72Angelo Furlan (Ita) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 71 - Cell 2
73Kjell Carlström (Fin) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 72 - Cell 2
74Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Rabobank0:07:30
75Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank0:07:39
76Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team0:07:54
77Egoitz García (Spa) Caja Rural0:07:57
78Alfredo Balloni (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini0:08:01
79Guillermo Lana (Spa) Caja Rural0:08:06
80Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team0:08:10
81Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia0:08:26
82Lukasz Bodnar (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice0:08:35
83Robert Wagner (Ger) Skil - Shimano0:08:57
84Stephane Rossetto (Fra) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team0:09:08
85Laurent Beuret (Swi) Carmiooro NGC0:09:34
86Garikoitz Bravo (Spa) Caja Rural0:13:06
87Matthias Russ (Ger) Team Milram0:13:27

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