Valverde preserves lead in GC

Sprinter Jonathan Hivert (Sojasun) took his second successive stage win of the Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta del Sol, winning the 194.2 km stage to Montilla with Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp) and Francesco Lasca (Caja Rural) making up the podium of the day.

The stage victory is Hivert's third win of the season - the 27-year-old having previously won the Etoile de Bessèges overall despite not taking home any stage wins on that occasion.

Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), prologue winner, retained his hold on the overall lead of the race, with a seven second advantage on Jurgen Van den Broeck (Lotto Belisol) and with Bauke Mollema (Blanco) further 4 seconds adrift.

Stage 2
1 Jonathan Hivert - Sojasun
2 Tyler Farrar - Garmin-Sharp
3 Francesco Lasca - Caja Rural
4 Grega Bole - Vacansoleil
5 Bauke Mollema - Blanco
6 Jakob Fuglsang - Astana
7 Joaquin Rojas Gil - Movistar
8 Jurgen van den Broeck - Lotto-Belisol
9 Sander Armee - Topsport Vlaanderen
10 Yves Lampaert - Topsport Vlaanderen

General Classification

1. Alejandro Valverde, Movistar, 9:01:29
2. Jurgen van den Broeck, Lotto-Belisol, 07”
3. Bauke Mollema, Blanco, 11”
4. Simon Spilak, Katusha, 12”
5. Bart de Clercq, Lotto-Belisol, 17”
6. Jakob Fuglsang, Astana, 19”
7. Luis Angel Mate Mardones, Cofidis, 22”
8. Nairo Alexander Quintana, Movistar, 24”
9. Jonathan Hivert, Sojasun, 25”
10. Sander Armee, Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise, 30”