Ireland's Nicolas Roche is the outright leader in this year's Vuelta a Espana after a strong performance in today's second stage.
The Team Sunweb veteran, 35, came home in second place at Calpe today - finishing just five seconds behind stage winner Nairo Quintana to take the famous red jersey.
Speaking to Eurosport after the race, Roche admitted he was 'lucky' in today's stage but is delighted to get hold of the jersey for the second time in his career.
A day billed for sprinters such as fellow Irishman Sam Bennett, it soon became a day for the general classification riders as Quintana surprised the breakaway with a late attack to claim the stage.
Roche enjoyed a seven second lead on Quintana after yesterday's opening stage and now leads the Colombian by just two seconds heading into day three.
The only Irish rider to win the Vuelta a Espana was Sean Kelly in 1988 - but Roche previously held the red jersey and finished sixth in the 2015 tour.
Sam Bennett finished almost 18 minutes back, but is likely to target tomorrow's stage - which will bring two category three climbs but, crucially, a flat finish for the Carrick-on-Suir sprinter.
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