The second stage parcours coupled with rainy, cold weather at the Volta a Catalunya indicated it could be another unpredictable ending for a second straight day. The final 20 kilometers of the 191.8-kilometer race were predominantly uphill and when paired with small, narrow roads it made for a complicated finish.

But with the leader’s jersey firmly on the shoulders of CCC Sprandi Polkowice’s Maciej Paterski there was no longer a battle of who would or should chase, and with teams not craving a repeat of yesterday’s bizarre conclusion the breakaway was tucked back in the peloton 19 kilometers from the end - at least there would be no surprises from the day’s escape group. Today there was organization to the last meters. 

However, the tough, rising road in the last kilometers made for a difficult finale, and in the end Movistar's Alejandro Valverde startled everyone by taking the bunch sprint with his teammate José Joaquín Rojas following close behind in second.

Trek Factory Racing's Fabio Silvestre dug deep in the tricky last kilometers to snag a well-deserved top 10 result as he sprinted to 8th place.

“The last kilometers were so hard!” said Fabio Silvestre. “All the time was up, and then some flat, but small roads for 3k and the last kilometer was again up.  I just tried to maintain position near the front as best as I could and in the end make the sprint. I am happy with my top 10.”

The day began under rain, and the skies never cleared for the five hours the riders spent in the saddle. It was miserable conditions for all, and for the GC men it was a day of pure survival ahead of two decisive stages in the next two days.

“It was a tough day, I think I had all my extra clothing on when we started in the rain. It was a little stressful in the finale with the small roads, but in the end all went well,” said Haimar Zubeldia. “I feel good, but I think all the others seem to be ready, too. I have had one month without racing, so it’s hard to know where I am, but starting tomorrow with the tough finale we shall see already.”

Director Alain Gallopin explained to TFR.com after race end how the team approached today, and was overall positive with the day’s results as both Zubeldia and Zoidl arrived safely with the front peloton, and with Silvestre sprinting to a respectable eighth place, a show of his progression this year:

“Obviously our plan was to protect Haimar [Zubeldia] and Riccardo [Zoidl] especially with the rain, which made it very dangerous today, and then also to try and make the sprint with Fabio [Silvestre]. Yesterday Fabio was very close to arrive with the front group, so it was great to see today he was there and that he can play at this level. "