• Vuelta a Espana, Day Two

Swift outsprinted by Degenkolb

ESPN staff
August 19, 2012
Ben Swift was pipped on the line by John Degenkolb and Allan Davis © PA Photos
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Britain's Ben Swift was denied his first Grand Tour stage win as John Degenkolb triumphed in a sprint finish to claim the second stage of the Vuelta a Espana.

Swift looked to be on course for victory when he hit the front with 200 metres remaining, but Degenkolb produced a late charge to snatch the win in Viana.

Home favourite Jonathan Castroviejo retained the leader's red jersey with ease, finishing in the peloton after winning Saturday's opening time trial in Pamplona, while Team Sky leader Chris Froome remains 12 seconds off the pace after finishing in the main pack.

The quartet of Javier Cachon, Javier Aramendia, Mikhail Ignatyev and Niki Terpstra escaped the peloton after six kilometres, but never managed to establish a convincing lead, and after Terpstra and then Cachon dropped back, the remaining duo were eventually reeled in with 12 kilometres remaining.

Sergey Lagutin made a late solo bid for victory, racing 11 seconds clear, but his challenge was quickly snuffed out to set up a bunch sprint finish after 81.4km of racing.

Swift, the only recognised sprinter on the British team, took up his position before making a move on the slight incline to the finish, but was pipped on the line by the young German, with Allan Davis also creeping ahead of Swift to finish second.

Team standings, Stage Two
1. Movistar Team - 14:14:51
2. Omega Pharma-QuickStep - at 00:10
3. Rabobank - at 00:10
4. BMC Racing Team - at 00:10
5. Lotto Belisol Team - at 00:12
6. Team Sky - at 00:12
7. Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank - at 00:14
8. Katusha Team - at 00:15
9. Euskaltel-Euskadi - at 00:28
10. Orica-GreenEdge - at 00:33

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