Thursday, March 04, 2010
Hunter wins again, holds Tour of Murcia lead
Spain — South African sprinter Robbie Hunter made it two-for-two, winning Thursday’s second stage of the Tour of Murcia in Spain, and keeping the leader’s jersey in the hands of the Garmin-Transitions squad for another day.
The team played its tactics perfectly on a tough, hilly 170-kilometer stage from Calasparra to Caravaca. With two Cat. 1 climbs, Hunter was considered a longshot to hold the jersey, but for the second day in a row, Garmin-Transitions rider Danny Pate got in a long breakaway.
That forced other teams to take up the chase, and eventually it came down to a sprint. Once again, Hunter sprung to victory on his Felt F1 SL, edging out Rabobank’s Australian Graeme Brown for the win.
The 30th Tour of Murcia continues Friday with a hilly 166.5-kilometer stage from Las Torres de Cotillas to Alhama de Murcia.
TOUR OF MURCIA
Spain. March 3-7
Stage 2
1. Robbie Hunter (RSA), 4:20:12
2. Graeme Brown (Aus), Rabobank, same time
3. Vicente Reynes (Spa), HTC-Columbia, same time
4. Alexandre Blain (Fra), Endura Racing, same time
5. Daniel Schorn (Aut), Team Netapp, same time
General Classification
1. Hunter, 8:35:52
2. Brown, same time
3. Reynes, same time
4. Schorn, same time
5. Daniel Impey (RS), Radio Shack, same time
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