Orica GreenEdge Colombian cyclist Esteban Chaves Rubio celebrates on the podium after winning the second stage of the 2015 Vuelta Espana cycling tour, a 158.7km stage between Alhaurin de la Torre and Caminito del Rey, yesterday. (AFP)
AFP/Malaga
Colombian Esteban Chaves claimed the second stageof Spain’s Vuelta as Tour de France champion Chris Froome lost four seonds to Nairo Quintana yesterday.
Chaves edged out Dutchman Tom Dumoulin in a sprint finish to the 158.7km ride from Alhaurin de la Torre to Caminito del Rey in a time of 3hr 57min 15sec ahead of Ireland’s Nicholas Roche in third. “It is my first win in a three-week tour. It’s incredible,” said Chaves.
“I hope to hold onto the red jersey (the overall leader) for as long as possible.”
Froome is attempting to become only the third man to win the Tour de France and the Vuelta in the same year, but Quintana took an early lead in the battle for the general classification victory as he came in one place ahead of Froome in sixth just 36 seconds behind the leaders.
“I tried to go from far out. It was a climb for explosive riders, I tried but the heat affected me,” said Quintana. “I saw that Chaves was stronger than those of us in the breakaway, he is a very smart rider and I am happy that one of my compatriots won.”
Another former Grand Tour winner, Vincenzo Nibali, endured a nightmare start as the Italian lost over a minute on Quintana.
The 2014 Tour de France champion had been dropped by the peloton before fighting his way back into the main group with 10 kilometres remaining. But he was made to pay for the energy he spent in d ing so in the category three climb towards the finish line as he finished 1min 38sec back. BMC enjoyed victory on a neutralised team time trial over safety concerns on Saturday, but their leader Tejay Van Garderen also lost time on the general classification favourites by finishing 55 seconds behind in 15th.
Greipel wins in Hamburg as Cavendish falls
German sprinter Andre Greipel, who won four stages on this year’s Tour de France, survived a fall after just 10 kilometres to win Hamburg’s Cyclassics race on Sunday.
The 33-year-old Lotto Soudal rider, who was born in the north German city of Rostock, relished his first victory in Hamburg to win in four hours 57.05 minutes ahead of Norway’s Alexander Kristoff and Italy’s Giacomo Nizzolo in a blanket finish.
A crash ended the hopes of Britain’s Mark Cavendish, who had been amongst the pre-race favourites.
POINTS CLASSIFICATION
1. Esteban Chaves (Colombia / Orica) 25
2. Tom Dumoulin (Netherlands / Giant) 20
3. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Team Sky) 16
4. Daniel Martin (Ireland / Cannondale) 14
5. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) 13
6. Nairo Quintana (Colombia / Movistar) 10
7. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) 10
8. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 9
9. Daniel Moreno (Spain / Katusha) 7
10. Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana) 6
