Chaves wins second stage of Vuelta de España

Esteban Chaves of the Orica Greenedge team has won the second stage of the Vuelta de España.

The day was overshadowed by the disqualification of Vincenzo Nibali, the 2014 Tour de France champion. Following a pileup with around 30 kilometres remaining, the Italian was seen holding onto his Astana team car in an attempt to catch up with the leaders. Organisers had no choice but to expel him.

Colombian rider Chaves pipped Dutchman Tom Dumoulin of Giant Alpecin to the line in the hilly 158.7km trek from Alhaurín de la Torre to Caminito del Rey.

Team Sky’s Nicolas Roche was a further eight second’s back in third followed by Irish compatriot Daniel Martin of Cannondale-Garmin another five seconds behind in fourth.

Roche’e Sky team mate Chris Froome, the 2015 Tour de France winner who is hoping for a rare Tour-Vuelta double, was seventh, 30 seconds behind Chaves

Stage 3 will be a 158.4km route from Mijas to Malaga.