Theo Bos (Cervélo TestTeam) won the 209.9km second stage of the Vuelta a Castilla y León between Burgos and Carrion de los Condes. For the second day in succession the former track sprint, kilo and Keirin World champion outsprinted Graeme Brown (Rabobank), with Oscar Grau (Burgos 2016-Castilla y León) in third.
The bunch sprint came at the end of a stage dominated by a four-man breakaway that led the peloton by over six minutes in the mid part of the course. Mountains competition leader Iban Mayoz (Footon-Servetto) escaped with Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank), Jose Vicente Toribio (Andalucia-CajaSur) and Jose Herrada (Caja Rural), with Bos’ Cervélo TestTeam keeping the gap manageable behind.
Mayoz beat Toribio in a battle for the third category Alto Del Embalse, the only points available on the stage, and the gap began to tumble with Cervélo joined on the front by Astana. Rabobank joined the chase in the final 20km, when the gap to the leaders was under a minute; the Dutch team’s aggressive pace caused a split at the front, which contained its leader Denis Menchov and Astana captain Alberto Contador.
The gap was not to last long though as the rest of the peloton rejoined, the break was reeled in and the sprinters’ teams lined up their fast men for the finish. Once again Bos was fastest, and once again Brown was best of the rest.
With no time bonuses on the stage, as is usual in most Spanish races, Bos keeps his lead in the overall classification as the race heads into the mountainous queen stage tomorrow.
Result stage 2
1. Theo Bos (Ned) Cervélo TestTeam
2. Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank
3. Oscar Grau (Spa) Burgos 2016-Castilla y León
Overall standings after stage 2
1. Theo Bos (Ned) Cervélo TestTeam