The Colombian cyclist Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain) was the protagonist in the second stage of the Tour of Andalusia, after finishing third at the finish line, four seconds behind the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (UAE), winner of the segment, escorted by the Spanish Enric More (Movistar),
Pogacar (UAE) repeated his victory on the first day this Thursday between Diezma and Alcalá la Real, consolidating his lead in the general classification, in which Buitrago made the longest jump by going from fourth to second, with a difference of 48 of seconds over the European.
The stage was decided on the cobblestones of the short, but hard climb to the Fortaleza de Mota, where the finish line was located. Spaniard Enric Mas and Pogacar jumped from a small group of leading riders to fight for victory.
The Bogotá cyclist, winner of stage 17 of the 2017 Giro d’Italia, received four bonus seconds for the podium finish achieved. This bonus allowed him to surpass Carlos Rodríguez and Mikel Landa in the general classification, thus becoming Pogacar’s direct follower.
“I am very happy with this performance and I hope to be able to keep this place and fight until the end for the title, even though we know the quality of Pogacar,” the Colombian told the media after the award ceremony.
On Friday the third stage of the Andalusian round will take place, of 160.4 km between Alcalá de Guadaira and Alcalá de los Gazules with a favorable route for sprinters.
General classification of the Tour of Andalusia
1.-Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia / UAE Team Emirates): 8:44:19.
2.-Santiago Buitrago (Colombia / Bahrain-Victorious): 48′
3.- Mikel Landa (Spain / Bahrain-Victorious): 52′.
4.- Carlos Rodríguez (Spain / Ineos Grenadiers): at 52′.
5.- Enric Mas (Spain / Movistar Team): at 1:47′.