VPV stage 2

Just like on day one yesterday, Euskaltel did the dirty work at the head of the peloton and kept Samu sheltered from the wind throughout today's second stage from Güeñes to Vitoria.

Other than that, not much to report. GreenEdge went one-two as Impey triumphed ahead of Allan Davis - who resides in the Basque Country - after the day's five-man break had been caught by the pack. Samu cruised home in 15th, and thus advanced to 12th on GC, while Gorka Izagirre is in fact the team's highest placed rider overall in 11th. Everyone bar Martínez and Oroz, who both came in 1:57 in arrears, finished inside the main peloton.

The likes of Gesink, D Martin and Nocentini ceded at least two minutes and joins Klöden, who dropped five minutes yesterday, on the list of pre-race favourites who are now out of contention even before the real climbing is set to start. Samu's rivals for the top step of the podium now seems to be Horner, Schleck, Purito and Van den Broeck - and they're likely to duke it out between them on the slopes of the feared Arrate tomorrow.

Speaking of Arrate, Samu can equal Federico Bahamontes record of three wins on the climb in Eibar if he repeats the triumph of the last two years tomorrow afternoon. Speaking to the team's website after today's stage, Samu wasn't getting ahead of himself though.

"Our goal is to animate the race", he said modestly. "Our obligation and desire is to do well. We all want a win, but winning is going to be tough, so it's important we appreciate the work we do no matter the outcome."