Vuelta a Andalucia: Alessandro Covi wins stage 2 in brutal hilltop finish

The Vuelta a Andalucia has once again had a finish in Alcalá La Real, and although it finished lower in the slopes in comparison to last year it was a gruesome finale for the riders, and like yesterday Alessandro Covi was the fastest up the final climb, only this time the UAE Team Emirates captured the stage win.

The breakaway consistend of Kamil MaleckI (Lotto Soudal), Gotzon Martin (Euskaltel - Euskadi), José Félix Parra (Equipo Kern Pharma), Jon Barrenetxea (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and Diego Pablo Sevilla (EOLO-Kometa). The group's lead has a maximum advantage of around 4:30 minutes but never truly threatened the peloton, who reeled the group in with 10 kilometers to go.

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Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise, together with Team BikeExchange - Jayco and UAE Team Emirates controlled the breakaway, and from there on there were constantly teams swarming the front of the peloton so as to enter the final climb ell positioned.

Inside it, INEOS Grenadiers pushed the pace, Bahrain - Victorious also made their presence felt in the front. In the final kilometer Wout Poels made a small move, Covi followed him and then attacked with around 500 meters to go. Several riders were at the head of the peloton but as they grimaced through the final ramps no-one could catch the Italian who's gotten his second win of the season.

Miguel Ángel López finished second with Ivan Sosa third, as small splits emerged behind. The Italian is also the new race leader.