Colombian climber Chaves wins stage 2 of Vuelta

Johan Esteban Chaves won the second stage of the Vuelta de Espana (Tour of Spain) cycle race on Sunday to take the overall leadership in the three week long race.

The Colombian climber, who rides for the Orica Green Edge team, was the strongest rider in the sharp climb which ended the 165 km stage and took the race to the finish at the Camino del Rey, close to the southern city of Malaga.

Following Saturday's false start with a team time trial which saw time differences rules out as the result of the dangerous course Sunday was the chance for the favorites to start to make their mark over a course which ended with a sharp third category climb guaranteed to open small gaps.

Ironically, while Saturday's 'dangerous' stage failed to produce any incidents, Sunday saw former winner Vicenzo Nibali involved in a nasty fall, although he was able to catch the main group before the final climb.

With Chaves and a small group already up the road, Nairo Quintana sprang away from the field with three kilometers remaining as the runner up in this year's Tour de France looked to try and put early seconds into Chris Froome, his nemesis in France.

As usual Froome needed time to react before finding his rhythm, but Quintana's brave efforts were maybe too early as his fellow countryman Chaves was first over the line, while 'Purito Rodriguez' another riders well suited to Sunday's punchy stage finished level with Quintana as the duo took four seconds out of Froome and Quintana's team-mate Alejandro Valverde. Enditem