(20-01-2016 / · Prensa / Press Tour de San Luis) · The Colombian claims victory in Villa Mercedes, where he beat Mark Cavendish for the first time last year. · The Etixx QuickStep rider takes leader’s jersey thanks to the time bonus of 10 seconds at the finish line. · “I want to thank my team and above all Sabatini and Richeze” says the sprinter. Gaviria (Etixx QuickStep) won Tour de San Luis stage 2 after an amazing finish in Villa Mercedes. Second place went to Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) with Elia Viviani (Italian National Team) third.
The Colombian claimed victory in Villa Mercedes, the same place where he beat Mark Cavendish for the first time last year. Former race leader Argentinian Maximiliano Richeze helped his teammate Gaviria to take a good position to face the final sprint. The young sprinter carried out an outstanding performance ahead of two world-class riders such as Sagan and Viviani.
Gaviria took leader’s jersey from his teammate Richeze thanks to the time bonus of 10 seconds at the finish line. It was another amazing prize for Etixx Quick Step, the team which had worked on the front of the peloton to finally catch the break of the day with one km to go. Gaviria was there to finish the mission. “I did not expect to win as the break had a good advantage. But my teammates have performed really well,” said the Colombian. “I also want to underline the effort of Sabatini and Richeze because they let me in a good position with 150 meters to the finish line.”
The break formed with Juan Ignacio Curuchet (Argentinian National Team), Ariel Sivori (Los Matanceros), Genki Yamamoto (Nippo Vini Fantini), Emiliano Ibarra (S.E.P. San Juan), Israel Nuño (Inteja-MMR) and Caio Godoy (Brazilian National Team) opened a maximum lead of six minutes with 30 km to go. Some kilometres before, Nuño had dropped out of the front group. Godoy, Sivori and Yamamoto attacked with 20 km to go dreaming with the stage victory. But then Etixx Quickstep increased the pace absorbing the three escapees in the last kilometre.
Tomorrow’s stage
Tour de San Luis stage 3 (tomorrow at 14:59 local time) from Potrero de los Funes to La Punta / El Cabildo (131 km) feature three climbs: the category 3 Alto de los Puquios (at km 23.9), the category 3 Alto de la Florida (at km 56.4) and the category 2 Mirador del Potrero (at km 119.6) at an altitude of 1270 meters. The stage is expected to finish at 18:15 (local time) based on an average speed of 40km/h.
Josu Garai, Andrea Agostini, Andrés García-Armero
For further information: www.toursanluis.com
Peter Sagan del Tinkoff Pro Cycling Team en la salida de la 2da etapa del Tour de San Luis 2016 
