Argentinean champion Daniel Diaz made steps today towards repeating his 2013 overall win in his country's biggest stage race, the Tour de San Luis. Diaz escaped on the climb to Mirador de Potrero in stage two, held on for the summit finish win and the overall lead.
Mark Cavendish lost the sprint in yesterday's opening stage to little-known Colombian Fernando Gaviria. Again today, one of the locals from South America won over cycling's top stars.
Rodolfo Andres Torres (Colombia) placed second at six seconds and Kleber Ramos (Funvic Brasilinvest) third at 24. Spain's Daniel Moreno (Katusha) placed fifth at 27 seconds, and defending champion and 2014 Giro d'Italia winner, Nairo Quintana (Movistar) placed seventh also at 27 seconds.
Diaz, 25 years old, is no surprise for Tour de San Luis followers. Two years ago, he won the overall by 33 seconds over Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing). Cycling's top Grand Tour star, Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) placed fourth at 1-02 minutes.
A five-man escape rode free for much of the 185.3 kilometres leading to the summit finish at 1270 metres. They faded just in time for the top climbers to battle on the 4.8-kilometre ascent. Movistar tried to control for Quintana, the group whittled down to around 10 riders, and Diaz and Torros attacked with over a kilometre to race.
Diaz, with the stage winner's time advantage, took the leader's jersey from Gaviria, but kept the lead among the local South Americans.
Tomorrow's undulating stage is one for an escape, but Thursday's summit finish to Alto El Amago, at 1710 metres, should further sort out the overall classification. The race finishes on Sunday in San Luis’s centre.
Results
Tour de San Luis 2015, stage two: La Punta to Mirador del Potrero, 185km
1. Daniel Diaz (Arg) Funvic Brasilinvest
2. Rodolfo Torres (Col) Colombia at 6 secs
3. Ramos Kleber (Bra) Funvic Brasilinvest at 24 secs
4. Eduardo Sepulveda (Arg) Bretagne-Seche Environnement at 27 secs
5. Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha at same time
Overall classification after stage two
1. Daniel Diaz (Arg) Funvic Brasilinvest
2. Rodolfo Torres (Col) Colombia at 6 secs
3. Ramos Kleber (Bra) Funvic Brasilinvest at 24 secs
4. Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha at same time at 27 secs
5. Eduardo Sepulveda (Arg) Bretagne-Seche Environnement at 27 secs
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
'I had lactate up to my ears': Mathieu van der Poel's stage 17 attack was an 'all or nothing' attempt
The Dutchman acknowledged he was perhaps too optimistic, but seemed encouraged by his performance nevertheless
-
De Jai vu? Hindley heads into Giro d’Italia finale seconds away from pink - just like in 2020
Bora-Hansgrohe's Australian is just three seconds from the lead
-
Mark Cavendish confident of strong Giro d'Italia but attempts to manage expectations: 'People seem to forget I had a punctured lung at the end of November'
The Manxman seemed motivated in the press conference as he returns to the Italian Grand Tour after a nine-year hiatus
-
Mark Cavendish frustrated on final Tour of Oman stage as Jan Hirt wins overall
Sprinter boxed out on stage six finish, as Fernando Gaviria triumphs
-
Mark Cavendish loses green jersey and fined at Tour of Oman ahead of stage six
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl penalised by race jury for being pushed back to peloton by car
-
Mark Cavendish crashes 'quite heavily' on stage five of Tour of Oman
Jan Hirt takes stage win and race lead atop Green Mountain on the penultimate day
-
Mark Cavendish raring to get 2022 campaign underway at Tour of Oman: 'It doesn't matter how you're going until you compare yourself with the other people'
Cavendish starts his 2022 campaign at the the Tour of Oman on Thursday
-
Mark Cavendish set to return from Ghent Six crash with season debut at Tour of Oman
Cavendish has recovered from the two broken ribs and punctured lung he suffered at the end of November to lead Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl in Oman
-
Police search for two men in connection to Mark Cavendish aggravated burglary case
Police have asked people to come forward if they know their whereabouts
-
Man charged with robbery at Mark Cavendish's house
A 30-year-old will appear in court today after armed men broke into the cyclist's home last month
