Italian Paolo Bettini surprised cycling's top sprinters with a late surge to take stage two of the Tour of Spain on Sunday. The Olympic road race champion outgunned Norwegian Thor Hushovd in the bunch sprint that decided the sunbaked stage from Malaga to Cordoba. Italian Luca Paolini was third.
Hushovd leapfrogged into the overall lead thanks to three time bonuses. The Credit Agricole rider heads Bettini by two seconds
"I am not a pure sprinter, so managing to beat so many big names here today all in one go is important for me," said Bettini, who is best known for his eight major Classics wins.
"It's also given me great morale for the world championships in Austria (September 24), which is my main end-of-season objective."
The 32-year old Quick Step rider said the numerous curves the race tacked on entering Cordoba had helped him take the second Vuelta stage of his career.
"The bends meant the bunch was more lined out and I could move up more easily at the finish."
"If I can win another bunch sprint, I will, but I'm not overly worried now I've done it once."
"The most important thing is that I leave the race in top condition for the worlds."
Hushovd, winner of this year's Tour de France prologue and final stage said that Bettini had surprised all the sprinters.
"I had no idea he was coming up so fast.
"In any case, I'd have preferred a stage win to taking the lead, but there are plenty more days for the sprinters, starting with tomorrow," the Norwegian added.
Monday's third stage is 219 km from Cordoba to Almendralejo. The Tour of Spain ends in Madrid on September 17.
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