By Gareth James
Geraint Thomas surged into the top 10 overall at the Volta a Catalunya after the stage two individual time trial.
The 2018 Tour de France champ finished 10th in the race against the clock – 47 seconds down on Ineos Grenadiers team-mate Rohan Dennis over the 18.5km course at Banyoles.
But that was enough to move Thomas into eighth spot in the General Classification.
The 34-year-old is 19 secs down on Portugal’s Joao Almeida who leads the race by just one second heading into a mountain stage on Wednesday.
Thomas, who was 30th overall after Monday’s first stage, is using the race as part of his build-up towards June’s Tour de France where he will be looking to regain the Yellow Jersey he famously won three years ago.
The Cardiff-born ace finished ahead off most of the main Gc contenders apart from USA rider Brandon McNulty who is second overall after finishing second on the stage and team-mates Richie Porte and Adam Yates.
Stevie Williams was 111th (at 2mins50secs) and Luke Rowe 133rd (at 3:57.)
Stage two: Banyoles to Banyoles (18.5km)
1. Rohan Dennis (Aus) Ineos Grenadiers, in 22-27
2. Rémi Cavagna (Fra) Deceuninck – Quick-Step, at 5 seconds
3. João Almeida (Por) Deceuninck – Quick-Step, at 27s
4. Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Team Emirates, at 29s
5. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma, at 33s
6. Richie Porte (Aus) Ineos Grenadiers, at 35s
7. Adam Yates (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at the same time
8. Josef Černy (Cze) Deceuninck – Quick-Step, at 38s
9. Stafen De Bod (RSA) Astana-Premier Tech, at 39s
10. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at 47s
General classification after stage two
1. João Almeida (Por) Deceuninck – Quick-Step, in 4-43-26
2. Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Team Emirates, at 1 second
3. Luis León Sánchez (Esp) Astana-Premier Tech, at 3s
4. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma, 5s
5. Adam Yates (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at 7s
6. Richie Porte (Aus) Ineos Grenadiers, at the same time
7. Stefan De Bod (RSA) Astana-Premier Tech, at 11s
8. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at 19s
9. Fausto Masnada (Ita) Deceuninck – Quick-Step, at 21s
10. Lennard Kämna (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 22s