Nacer Bouhanni of France won the second stage of the Volta a Catalunya Tuesday, adding to his opening stage victory and protecting his overall lead. The Cofidis rider sprinted ahead of the pack to claim the relatively flat 178.8-kilometer ride from Mataro to Olot in just over four-and-a-half hours. Gianni Meersman was second followed by Philippe Gilbert. "The victory is very important for the team," Bouhanni said. "It's our fourth to start the season and that's a great a way to begin." Race favorite Chris Froome, Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana all finished safely in the pack. Thomas de Gendt was the last of a small group of four escapees to be caught by the peloton near 12 kilometers from the finish. An expert sprinter, Bouhanni said he hoped to "get another win after the mountain stages." On Wednesday the route heads into the mountains, with a 172.1-kilometer ride from Girona to La Molina in the Pyrenees. Quiet until now, Froome, Contador, Quintana and other top climbers like Joaquim Rodriguez will find terrain suitable to attack Bouhanni's lead. The week-long race through northeastern Spain finishes in Barcelona Sunday.
