Bouhanni wins stage, Valverde leads at Vuelta

France's Nacer Bouhanni, left. (Gian Mattia D'Alberto/AP)

SAN FERNANDO, Spain — Nacer Bouhanni of France sprinted to victory in the second stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Sunday, while Alejandro Valverde claimed the red leader’s jersey after a ride that didn’t produce any changes among the race favourites.

Bouhanni was launched by a FDJ.fr teammate and had time to ease up as he crossed the line a bike-length ahead of the pack, finishing the flat 174.4-kilometre (108.3-mile) ride from Algeciras to San Fernando along Spain’s southern coast in just over 4 hours.

Bouhanni won three stages at this year’s Giro d’Italia.

Valverde took the leader’s jersey from Movistar teammate Jonathan Castroviejo. Giro winner Nairo Quintana is second on the same time as Valverde.

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