Chicchi doubles up at San Luis

The 31-year-old Italian sprinter edged out team-mate Tom Boonen in another tight finish to celebrate a double podium for the Belgian based squad. American Jake Keough (Unitedhealhtcare) finished third.

Chicchi leads local Argentianian favourite JJ Haedo (Saxo Bank) by 14 seconds on  the general classification with Keough is a further 2 seconds back.

“I was supposed to help Boonen’s sprint in the end, seen as that was what we had decided during the morning meeting," said Chicchi. "I started the sprint with [Jimmy] Casper (AG2R-La Mondiale) and Tom [Boonen] right on my wheel. About 300 meters from the finish line I looked behind me and I didn’t see Tom anymore.

"At that point I launched my sprint and only in the last 50 meters I saw Tom near me. We both raised our hands and I stopped thinking about the sprint. It was only after passing the finish line that I understood I had won. It’s the first time I win two stages in a row during the same race, it’s a great feeling."

Despite being caught up in traffic Boonen was content with his final position at the end of the 145.3km stage from Fraga to Juana Kuslay.

“We controlled the race perfectly once again today,” Boonen said. “I was trying to get Chicchi’s wheel at the last kilometer in order to enhance my sprint, but another rider hit my front wheel making me wallow for a moment. I lost a few positions but I managed to keep good speed. I made my sprint attempt in the final meters and found myself head to head with Chicchi.

"We looked at each other and just by instinct we both raised our arms. We didn’t know who of us had won but it didn’t matter. We’re happy to have given the team another great day. I am in good shape and there will be more time for me to win."

Wind was again a factor on stage two but a South American contingent of Antonio Cabrera (Team Chile), Edwin Avila (Team Colombia), Emmanuel Guevara (San Luis Somos Todos) and Mauricio Neisa (Colombia, Comcel) left the peloton to build a lead of 5 minutes and 30 seconds before succumbing with 10km left.

Stage three is a mountainous 168.2km stretch from Estancia Grande to Mirador del Potrero.

Stage 2: 145.3km, Fraga to Juana Kuslay.

1 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 3:22:40
2 Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
3 Jake Keough (USA) Unitedhealthcare
4 Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Movistar
5 Jimmy Casper (Fra) AG2R-La Mondiale
6 Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank
7 Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Colnago-CSF Bardiani
8 Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Argentina
9 Hector Aguilar Figueiras (Uru) Funvic-Pidamonhangab
10 Francesco Lasca (Ita) Caja Rural

General Classification:

1 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 8:15:38
2 Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank 0:00:14
3 Jake Keough (USA) Unitedhealtchare 0:00:16
4 Mauro Richeze (Arg) Argentina
5 Paolo Locatelli (Ita) Colnago-CSF Bardiani 0:00:19
6 Jimmy Casper (Fra) AG2R-La Mondiale 0:00:20
7 Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Movistar
8 Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Colnago-CSF Bardiani
9 Grischa Janorschke (Ger) Team NetApp
10 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Christina Watches-Ofone