Felline wins Tour of Basque Country stage 2, Matthews leads

VITORIA, Spain (AP) Fabio Felline of Italy won the second stage of the Tour of the Basque Country on Tuesday after finishing half a wheel-length ahead of Australia's Michael Matthews, who retains the overall lead.

The Trek Factory Racing rider's powerful sprint appeared to catch first-stage winner Matthews by surprise and although the Australian pushed hard, he was unable to prevent Felline winning in a time of four hours, 32 minutes, 32 seconds.

Tony Gallopin of France came third, in the same time, with the pack coming in immediately behind him.

The riders were split by an early Category 1 climb to the Orduna summit but the chasing pack closed in on the breakaway group, lining a mass sprint finish to the 175.4 (108.9 mile) ride from Bilbao to Vitoria, the capital of the northern Basque region.

The stage took place without several riders who received hospital treatment after a crash during the final sprint in Monday's stage.

Peter Stetina of the United States suffered fractures around his right knee and broke several ribs while fellow countryman Danny Pate sustained fractures around his left elbow.

Spain's Sergio Pardilla snapped his left wrist, French rider Nicolas Edet fractured his collarbone and several ribs and Adam Yates of Britain fractured bones in his right hand, hospital statements said.

Wednesday's third stage is a mountainous 170.7-kilometer (106-mile) ride from Vitoria to Zumarraga.

The race ends Saturday with a ride starting and finishing in Aia.