Canal takes emotional first pro win on home roads at O Gran Camiño

Carlos Canal (Movistar) sprinted to victory on stage 2 of O Gran Camiño in Barreiros to take his first professional victory. 

Movistar had made the finale attritional, thanks particularly to Iván Romeo and Nelson Oliveira, who both attacked and maintained a difficult tempo.

The 24-year-old Canal proved to be the quickest in a reduced sprint finish to take his maiden pro win ahead of Mats Wenzel (Equipo Kern Pharma) and Eric Antonio Fagúndez (Burgos Burpellet BH).

Even more important to the Galician is the fact that O Gran Camiño is his home race, and stage 4 begins in Canal’s hometown, Xinzo de Limia.

Meanwhile, the race leader, Julius Johansen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) was distanced from the front group in the finale, meaning that Rafael Reis (Anicolor/Campicarn) moved into the yellow jersey, a second ahead of Oliveira.

It's the second successive stage that has seen a maiden professional victory following Johansen's time trial success.

The first road stage of the race kicked off in Vilalba and saw a breakaway an initial break of five form, including Tomas Contte, (Aviludo - Louletano - Loulé), Sinuhé Fernández (Burgos Burpellet BH), Jakub Otruba (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA), Joaquim Silva (Efapel Cycling), and Danny van der Tuuk (Euskaltel - Euskadi).

The quintet would shortly be joined by three more riders, Hubert Lamothe (Meridian Racing p/b de la Uz), Hugo Nunes (Credibom / LA Alumínios / Marcos Car), and Rúben Rodrigues (Feira dos Sofás - Boavista).

Iván Romeo (Movistar) was active on the Alto de Noceda inside the final 25km as the peloton whittled in size and the race leader Julius Johansen dug deep to hang on to his yellow jersey.

Meanwhile, Otruba went solo from the breakaway, and the Czech rider held an advantage of around 20 seconds by the summit.

Romeo tried to break clear over the overside of the climb, and the Spanish Champion’s power split the peloton and saw the race leader, Johansen, found himself distanced with 15km remaining, as well as Otruba being caught out front.

Inside the final 10km, there were a series of attacks, but none managed to stick until Nelson Oliveira powered off the front with just under 5km remaining. The veteran Portuguese rider sat 3rd in the GC at the start of the stage, meaning the yellow jersey was within reach.

However, Caja Rural-Seguros RGA led the chase and managed to reel in the Portuguese rider with 2.3km remaining. 

Burgos Burpellet BH led under the flamme rouge, with Movistar also well positioned. Canal launched his sprint and won by some distance as nobody was able to match his speed.