Two of out two at Castilla y León as Lobato opens Euskaltel account

Juan José Lobato showed just why Euskaltel brought him in over the winter by taking out Saturday's second stage of the Vuelta a Castilla y León ahead of Francesco Lasca (Caja Rural) and American Ken Hanson (Optum Kelly).

The 24-year-old emerged victorious at the end of a bunch sprint in Palencia at the end of a 164,1km trek from Villa del Libro de Urueña to hand Euskaltel back to back victories after Pablo Urtasun took the team's first win of the year on Friday.

The stage followed a script decidedly similar to yesterday's: a group of nine (including Basques Haritz Orbe of Euskadi and Víctor de la Parte of SP Tableware) got away after some 60 clicks, were reeled in by the incessant pace setting of Euskaltel and Movistar with 10 to go, and it all came down to the anticipated sprint finish.

Lobato had led out out Urtasun expertly yesterday, but the roles were reversed this time around. The veteran returned the favour, allowing the young man from Andalucía to stand on top of the podium for the first time in an orange jersey.

Results (full results here):

• 1, Juan José Lobato, 3:33:09
• 6, Carlos Barbero (Euskadi), s.t.
• 17, Pablo Urtasun, s.t.
• 34, Unai Iparraguirre (Euskadi), s.t.
• 37, Aritz Bagües (Euskadi), s.t.
• 58, Gorka Verdugo, s.t.
• 59, Jorge Azanza, s.t.
• 78, Mikel Nieve, 0:15
• 82, Jon Larrinaga, s.t.
• 90, Mikel Iturria, s.t.
• 93, Mikel Bizkarra, 0:26
• 95, Igor Merino, s.t.
• 100, Robert Vrecer, 0:43
• 119, Ricardo Mestre, 4:04
• 122, Haritz Orbe, s.t.
• 123, Jon Aberasturi, s.t.

Photo: Euskaltel Euskadi