German sprint expert Danilo Hondo unleashed a late burst to grab victory in the second stage of the Tour of Catalunya on Tuesday.

The Telekom rider hit the front in the last 10 metres of the 182.9km run from La Senia to edge out the fast-finishing Oscar Freire of Spain.

Freire's team-mate Andrea Tafi of Italy finished third and Russian rider Dmitri Konyshev crossed the line in fourth.

American George Hincapie took over from US Postal team-mate Tom Boonen as leader of the week-long tour after finishing in the main pack during the mass finish.

Fellow US Postal riders Roberto Heras, Christian Vandevelde and Michael Barry occupy the next three places at the top of the overall standings.

Boiling point

Earlier in the day Lotto rider Thierry Marichal had made a brave bid for victory when he broke away from the peloton after just 14 kilometres.

But the suffocating heat took its toll and Marichal eventually cracked and was swallowed by the peloton with just 16km to go.

A string of riders then fired off attacks from the front, but none managed to escape and the stage boiled down to a battle between the sprinters.

With 500 metres to go Hondo powered his way to the front to edge out Oscar Freire by a wheel's length.

Wednesday's third stage is a 10.8km uphill individual time trial designed to suit the specialist climbers and could prove decisive in the battle for the race victory.

Tour of Catalunya second stage results:

1. Danilo Hondo (Ger) Telekom
2. Oscar Freire (Spa) Mapei
3. Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei
4. Dmitri Konyshev (Russia) Fassa Bortolo
5. Jean-Michel Tessier (France) Cofidis
6. Alessandro Bertolini (Italy) Alessio
7. Kai Hundertmatck (Germany) Telekom
8. Carlos Torrent (Spain) Jazztel
9. Rafael Casero (Spain) Jazztel
10. Christophe Detilloux (Belgium) Lotto

Overall standings:

1. George Hincapie (US) US Postal
2. Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal
3. Christian Vandevelde (US) US Postal
4. Michael Barry (Can) US Postal
5. Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spa) ONCE
6. Jan Hruska (Cze) ONCE
7. Ivan Parra (Col) ONCE
8. Xaxier Florencio (Spa) ONCE
9. Mikel Pradera (Spa) ONCE
10. Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) ONCE

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