Saeco team rider Danilo Di Luca won the second stage of the Tour of Spain after triumphing in a bunch sprint finish this evening. But this year's Giro d'Italia winner Paolo Savoldelli lost touch with the main pack on a first category climb and trailed home over nine minutes back.
After a sluggish start, the 144.7 km stage from Valencia sprang into life on a third category climb called El Revolcat. Spaniard Oscar Sevilla spearheaded a four-man attack which was only caught with a kilometre to go. Italian Di Luca charged ahead in the final metres to win in three hours 39 minutes 35 seconds with German sprinter Erik Zabel second and Oscar Camenzind of Switzerland third.
Spaniard Joseba Beloki of ONCE-Eroski, who finished seventh, retained the overall lead.
Filed by Shane Murray
