Freire goes for gold

Oscar Freire of Rabobank went for gold on Sunday, winning the stage and taking over the leader's golden jersey in the second stage of the Vuelta a España. He outsprinted Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step-Innergetic) and Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) out of a field that had been dramatically reduced by a mass crash some two kilometres before the finish line. Based on his first place today and his second place in the first stage, he took over the lead from Daniele Bennati, who was involved in the crash. Because the crash occurred within the three-kilometre "neutralized" zone, the Lampre sprinter was awarded the same time as the winner, but came in as 186th, or next to last in the main group. Erik Zabel of Milram finished fourth on the day to move up to second overall and Duque took third place.

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