Due to a bad injury, Caja Rural sprinter Francesco Lasca has had a belated start to his season but now he is finally back at a competitive level. Yesterday he proved his return to form when he finished 2nd in the Vuelta a la Rioja and he was pleased to finally be back in the mix.

One year ago Francesco Lasca took one of the biggest victories in his short career when the talented Italian sprinter won the Vuelta a la Rioja. This year he was back to defend his title but he found himself in a completely different situation than he did in 2013.

A bad injury meant that he lined up at the race with only two race days in his legs and he had even failed to finish both the GP Camaiore and the GP Miguel Indurain. However, he proved his return to form when he finished second behind Michael Matthews to take his second consecutive top 2 result in the event.

"It's pretty good, considering it is the first race after my injury where I wanted to win," he said "I think I'm in a good place, but I have to improve my condition. I'm happy that the work done at home has been good because it has not been easy.

"The team deserves a top mark as they have all worked perfectly. I want to acknowledge the work and trust that they have in me and I hope can reward them with a win in the near future.

"I've felt good, and I'm happy, but I'm not perfect. I need to improve in Turkey. I have passed Matthews but in the end he had better legs."

Earlier in the race the team had animated the race with former Euskaltel rider Pello Bilbao who proved his return to form after illness by winning the intermediate sprints competition.

"I felt well in these two races [GP Miguel Indurain and Vuelta a la Rioja], better than expected," he said. "I am very sorry not to do the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, but I have been hampered by a virus and my training sessions have not been as expected.

"It's a very important race for me, but I think you should do it if you are confident and at 100% and I am not. Last week I made the decision with the team even though it was hard but I think it is better to bring a rider who feels good.

"I was able to get into the break in La Riojas and we have to saved something for the final 30km. I have felt strong and almost without noticing it, I won the intermediate sprints competition.

"In the final part we had a small hope of getting to the finish because we were riding fast and were well organized. You always have the hope that the peloton make a miscalcucation. Orica-GreenEdge did it well.

"I'm happy to be on the podium and with Lasca's second place. It has been a very hard winter with injury and this will give him confidence and better feelings."