Vuelta 2014: Victor Bouhanni shows pure speed

Sunday, August 24th – In the deep south of Spain stage 2 heads from Algeciras to San Fernando in 174.4 kilometres. Except for a 3rd category climb at the beginning the ride is as flat as can he. Four escapees are adrift, but when they are reeled a bunch sprint in the inevitable result. French powerhouse Nacer Bouhanni takes the win, whilst Alejandro Valverde is the new GC leader. (Slideshow route/profile)

Vuelta 2014: Results 2nd stage

1. Nacer Bouhanni (fra)
2. John Degenkolb (Ger) s.t.
3. Roberto Ferrari (ita) s.t.
4. Jasper Stuyven (bel) s.t.
5. Francesco Lasco (ita) s.t.
6. Oscar Gatto (ita) s.t.
7. Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) s.t
8. Tom Boonen (bel) s.t.
9. Moreno Hofland (Nld) s.t
10. Matteo Pelucchi (ita) s.t.

178. Carlos Betancur (col) + 1.15
179. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 1.17

GC after 2nd stage
1. Alejandro Valverde (spa)
2. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
3. Andrey Amador (Crc) s.t.
4. Jonathan Castroviejo (spa) s.t.
5. Imanol Erviti (spa) s.t.
6. Gorka Izagirre (spa) s.t.
7. Oscar Gatto (ita) + 0.06
8. Michael Matthews (aus) s.t.
9. Damiano Caruso (ita) s.t.
10. Maciej Bodnar (pol) s.t.

13. Esteban Chaves (col) s.t.
25. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.11
34. Alberto Contador (spa) + 0.19
35. Wilco Kelderman (Nld) s.t.
37. Robert Gesink (Nld) s.t.
52. Chris Froome (gbr) + 0.27
65. Jurgen Van den Broeck (bel) + 0.30
77. Joaquim Rodriguez (spa) + 0.38
85. Andrew Talansky (USA) + 0.41
87. Ryder Hesjedal (can) s.t.
172. Carlos Betancur (col) + 1.48
192. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 2.51

Race report
The climb up Alto del Cabrito is the only climb of the day, so the rider who crests first is in the mountain jersey tomorrow, so as soon as the flag is dropped the race is on. A group of six (Haas, Conti, Aramendia, Janse Van Rensburg, Sbaragli and Hardy) is off and their gain grows to over 2 minutes.

Nathan Haas takes 3 king of the mountain points at Alto del Cabrito and goes off the front, just like Sbaragli. The quartet extends their lead to 5 minutes with 80 kilometres left, but then the bunch starts to reel them in and with 18 kilometres left it’s over.

Nacer Bouhanni outsprints each and everyone, whilst John Degenkolb comes in second.