Despite a flurry of late attacks on the steep slopes of Alto del Naranco, Amets Txurruka (Caja-Rural-Seguros RGA) successfully defended his lead to take the overall at the Vuelta Asturias.

When the peloton hit the foot of the final and race defining climb, Alto del Naranco (3.8 km at 7,1 %), an avalanche of attacks were launched. Moreno (Movistar), in particular, went into attacking mode as he tried to regain the seconds he lost to Txurruka yesterday.

However, he never managed to break clear, and even though Delio Fernandez (OFM-Quinta da Lixa) did establish a minor lead accompanied by Landa (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Cardoso (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Txurruka was able to respond in style and neutralize all assaults on his overall lead.

At the end of the day nine riders made a dash to the line for the stage victory. Moreno saw off the challenges of his rivals to take the stage while Txurruka calmly crossed the line to take the overall ahead of Landa and Cardoso.

Result, stage 2:
1 Javier Moreno - Movistar Team 4.04.55
2 Mikel Landa - Euskaltel-Euskadi
3 Andre Cardoso - Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
4 Delio Fernández - OFM-Quinta da Lixa
5 Evgeny Shalunov - Lokosphinx
6 Arkaitz Duran - Spanien
7 Amets Txurruka - Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
8 Pello Bilbao - Euskaltel-Euskadi
9 Rubén Plaza - Movistar Team
10 Higinio Suarez - Spanien 0.03”
11 Steve Bekaert - Burgo BH - Castilla y Leon 0.12”
12 Adrian Saez de Arregi - Euskaltel-Euskadi
13 Ever Alexander Rivera - 472-Colombia
14 Alejandro Marque Porto - OFM-Quinta da Lixa 0.32”
15 Marcos García - Caja Rual-Seguros RGA 0.44”

General classification:
1 Amets Txurruka - Caja Rural - Seguros RGA 8.25.48
2 Mikel Landa - Euskaltel-Euskadi 0.03”
3 Javier Moreno - Movistar Team 0.04”
4 André Cardoso - Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0.20”
5 Delio Fernández - OFM-Quinta da Lixa 0.14”