Summary Fabio Felline won the second stage of the Basque Country on Tuesday.
VITORIA (AFP) - Italian Fabio Felline edged out Australia s Michael Matthews to win the second stage, but the Orica-GreenEdge rider maintained his overall lead at the Tour of the Basque Country on Tuesday.
Felline pipped Matthews in a sprint finish to the line on the 175.4km ride from Bilbao to Vitoria in a time of 4hr 32min 32sec with France s Tony Gallopin in third.
Matthews retains the overall lead, though, having won the opening stage on Monday.
"I did not wait for Matthews, today I started my sprint first," said Felline.
"I was in a good position at the end and I was right to go early.
"I knew I had good legs and I came here with the intention to win a stage. With 40k to go I had a puncture, but the team was there to help me. All day they trusted in me. It is thanks to my team that I won. This is a dream."
Polish world champion Michal Kwiatowski was fourth, as race favourite Nairo Quintana finished safely amongst the peloton.
The start of the stage was delayed by a five minute protest from the riders in response to a serious crash towards the end of Monday s first stage which left five riders suffering bad injuries with the cause of the accident blamed on poorly marked traffic bollards.
Wednesday s third stage is another undulating 170.7km ride from Vitoria to Zumarraga with four peaks in the final 40 kilometres.
