Roman Villalobos denies the Sprinters on Stage Two

Huge attacks in the hectic final kilometres, saw Villalobos, Escuela and Benoot finally escape

It was a long relatively flat stage which boiled down to the final 3 kilometres as they climbed up over a dam to the finish line. The first attack came from Gonzalo Najar (Sindicato de Empleados Publicos de San Juan) who attacked at the start of the last climb.

The peloton had swallowed up all the of the day's breakaways with 15 kms to go.

It was Rafal Majka (Bora) who put in the next big big attack, several riders followed as they climbed up and over the dam that signified 1.5 kms to go. 

After several attacks, it was Costa Rican Roman Villalobos of Canel's-Specialized who got away and sprinted ahead of Daniel Escuela and Tiesj Benoot to win Stage 2 of the Vuelta a San Juan and take over the race lead from Quick-Step's Fernando Gaviria who won the stage one sprint.

A disappointing finish for Quick-Step Floors who positioned Gaviria near the front for the finale,  but the gradient reared up and the attacks started, and three riders who got away, however Quick-Step were reeling them in, but they had just enough distance to stay away and fight it out on the line.

Roman Villalobos said afterwards"The stage yesterday gave me a lot of confidence because it's hard on the legs but I knew I was in good physical shape. We were hoping to gain time on the GC...I'm very happy to have won today."

VIDEO: 2018 Vuelta a San Juan Stage 2 Final Kilometres

2018 Vuelta a San Juan Stage 2 Top 10

Román Villalobos (CAS) 3h 25′ 06″
Ricardo Escuela (AVF) m.t.
Tiesj Benoot (LTS) m.t.
Filippo Ganna (UAD) m.t.
Óscar Sevilla (MED) m.t.
Rafal Majka (BOH) m.t.
Gonzalo Najar (SEP) m.t.
Alexander Cataford (UHC) m.t.
Guillaume Boivin (ICA) m.t.
Lluis Mas (CJR) m.t.

2018 Vuelta a San Juan GC after Stage 2 

Román Villalobos (CAS) 6h 40′ 19″
Ricardo Escuela (AVF) +0’04”
Tiesj Benoot (LTS) +0’06”
Fernando Gaviria (QST) +0’08”
Manuel Belletti (ANS) +0’10”
Filippo Ganna (UAD) +0’10”
Miguel Ángel Rubiano (CZS) +0’10”
Lluis Mas (CJR) +0’10”
Óscar Sevilla (MED) +0’10”
Jens Keukeleire (LTS) +0’10”