Vicioso victorious in Gijón

After finishing runner-up on the opening stage, Angel Vicioso Arcos (Andalucia - Cajasur) went one better on stage two, winning the sprint from a select group of 20 riders formed on the category 2 San Martín de Huerce climb 13.9km from the finish.

The Spaniard bested Loule - Louletano teammates Santiago Pérez and Constantino Zaballa for the victory in Gijón and the top three on the stage now occupy the top three spots on general classification.

Overnight race leader Pablo Urtasun Perez (Euskaltel - Euskadi) relinquished his spot atop general classification after finishing the day 11:41 behind Vicioso.

Przemyslaw Niemiec (Miche) nearly took top honours for the stage, but was swept up by the 19-man Vicioso group five kilometres from the finish. The Pole was part of a three-man break containing David Gutierrez Gutierrez (Footon-Servetto) and Fabio Duarte (Cafe De Colombia - Colombia Es Pasion) which formed 43km into the stage.

The trio eventually became a duo as Niemiec and Gutierrez dispatched of Duarte on the descent off the stage's first climb, the third category Alto de La Encrucija at 74.1km. The Pole and Spaniard continued to work well together throughout the stage, building a five minute lead as they reached the ascent of the San Martín de Huerce, with its summit 13.9km from the finish.

Niemiec dropped Gutierrez on the climb and continued on with his bid for stage honours and perhaps the leader's jersey, having started the day 18 seconds behind on general classification.

Niemiec did not succeed in his solo mission, however, and was absorbed in Gijón by a 19-rider group containing his former breakaway companion Gutierrez and 18 others who had gapped the peloton on the final climb.

While Vicioso took the stage and the race lead, Niemiec was not left empty-handed for his efforts. The Pole hung on to finish sixth in the sprint and took over the mountains classification, having won all three KOMs throughout the stage.