Fernando Gaviria wins the second stage

Colombian Fernando Gaviria (UAE) won the second stage of the Vuelta a Burgos, disputed between Catrojeriz and Villadiego, on Wednesday, while Austrian Felix Grossschartner remains leader of the general classification.

Gaviria prevailed on the finish line, after a completely flat stage, to the French Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ) and the Irish Sam Bennett (Decenunink-Quick Step).

The stage, marked by an escape of five runners who died 15 kilometers from the finish, was decided in the last meters, when Gaviria took advantage of the exit of a curve to take off towards victory in Villadiego. Austrian Felix Grossschartner, who won the first stage on the eve, maintained the overall lead.

“It was a team effort, today we did not work to control the leak because we had three fewer runners, it was a shock for us not to have Molano who was one of my pitchers,” said a happy Gaviria after the race. “We have the legs, with luck and the right moment, everything came together to make a nice sprint and win,” added the Colombian cyclist.

His companion Sebastián Molano was one of the UAE cyclists, along with his compatriots Cristian Muñoz and Camilo Ardila, who did not take the start this Wednesday after being withdrawn from the race for having had contact with a person who tested positive for coronavirus.

“Although they have come here with negatives and there are no symptoms, this morning, talking to them at breakfast we have realized that there has been a contact on Saturday with a positive, so we have decided to isolate them and remove them from the race” UAE sports director Joxean Matxin said. The three were subjected to new tests this Wednesday that have given a negative result.

On Thursday there will be a tough third stage, 150 kilometers between Sargentes de Las Loras and Picón Blanco with four third category ports and arrival in a special one.