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RACE REPORTS: 2010 VUELTA A ESPANA: HUTAROVICH SNATCHES WIN FROM CAV
Road Bike Action and AFP
August 29, 2010
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Yauheni Hutarovich (Francais de Jeux) edges out Mark Cavendish to take Stage 2 of the 2010 Vuelta a Espana.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)
Britain's Mark Cavendish retained the leader's red jersey after the second stage of the Tour of Spain here Sunday in which he was pipped to line in a sprint finish by Yauheni Hutarovich of Belarus. Hutarovich, of the Francaise des Jeux team, pulled off a surprise victory over the British sprint king at the end of the 173.7-kilometer course from Alcala de Guadaira to Marbella in southern Spain. It was the first stage win in any of the three Grands Tours for the 26-year-old.
Third was American Tyler Farrar, ahead of Italy's Alessandro Petacchi.
"It might seem like a surprise but it wasn't, it's my fifth victory this season," said the Belarusian, who turned professional in 2007. "I came with the intention of winning a stage, I've therefore achieved that." But he admitted that "when I saw that I had won, I couldn't believe it. But I saw Cavendish, the leader, had some problems and I knew I had a chance."
Spain's three-time World Road Race champion Oscar Freire admitted he was "surprised" by Hutarovich's win. "I don't know him, I have never heard his name," he said. "But we'll have to watch him, as he has just beaten one of the best current sprinters, Cavendish."
The Briton, making his Tour of Spain debut, holds a 12-second lead in the overall standings over a group of four riders - Kanstantsin Sivtov of Belarus, Peter Velits of Slovakia, American Tejay Van Garderen and Australians Matthew Goss and Hayden Roulston.
The 25-year-old Isle of Man rider on Saturday powered his HTC-Columbia team to victory in the opening stage, a 13-kilometer team time trial held at night under floodlights in the southern city of Seville. He already has a remarkable string of stage wins in major Tours that includes 15 victories in the Tour of France over the past three years.
 Hutarovich proves Cavendish is beatable as he takes the win in Stage 2 of the 2010 Vuelta a Espana. (Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)
Sunday's stage was marked by an early breakaway by four riders - Spain's
Javier Ramirez, Australia's Johnnie Walker and Frenchmen Mickael Buffaz
and Mickael Delage. Buffaz was forced to withdraw after breaking his
collarbone in a crash after about 73 kilometers. The leading trio was
joined by Spain's Marcos Garcia Fernandez, but they were caught by the
peloton with about 12 kilometers to go in the final downhill run to the
finish.
Monday's stage take the riders 156 kilometers from Marbella to Malaga, and includes a first category climb.
The event has been left wide open by the absence of three-time Tour de
France winner Spaniard Alberto Contador, who skipped his home Tour,
which he won in 2008, after a hard-fought victory in France in July, and
last year's winner Alejandro Valverde, who is serving a suspension for
doping.
Top contenders now include 35-year-old Russian Denis Menchov, a two-time
Tour of Spain winner, the Schleck brothers of Luxembourg, Andy and
Frank, and the 2008 Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre of Spain.
The 21-stage 65th edition of the Tour of Spain, in which 198 riders from 22 teams are competing, ends in Madrid on September 19.
Stage 2 Results:
1. Yauheni Hutarovich (BLR/Francais-des-Jeux) in 4 hours 35 minutes and 41 seconds
2. Mark Cavendish (IDM/HTC-Columbia) at same time
3. Tyler Farrar (USA/Garmin-Transitions) at s.t.
4. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA/Lampre-Farnese Vini) at s.t.
5. Manuel Cardoso (POR/Footon-Servetto) at s.t.
6. Koldo Fernandez (ESP/Euskatel-Euskadi) at s.t.
7. Ben Swift (ENG/Team Sky) at s.t.
8. Robert Förster (GER/Milram) at s.t.
9. Denis Galimzyanov (RUS/Katusha) at s.t.
10. Andreas Stauff (GER/Quick Step) at s.t.
Overall Standings:
1. Mark Cavendish (IDM/HTC-Columbia) in 4 hours 49 minutes and 35 seconds
2. Kanstantsin Siutsou (BLR/HTC-Columbia) at 12 seconds
3. Peter Velits (SVK/HTC-Columbia) at same time
4. Tejay Van Garderen (USA/HTC-Columbia) at s.t.
5. Matthew Goss (AUS/HTC-Columbia) at s.t.
6. Hayden Roulston (NZL/HTC-Columbia) at s.t.
7. Tyler Farrar (USA/Garmin-Transitions) at 21"
8. Daniele Bennati (ITA/Liquigas-Doimo) at 22"
9. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/Liquigas-Doimo)at same time
10. Frederik Willems (BEL/Liquigas-Doimo) at s.t.
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