Vasil Kiryienka of Belarus ended a three-year drought by winning the second stage of the 2011 Tour of the Basque Country this afternoon.

Last seen raising his arms in victory after a solo break in a mountain stage of the Giro d'Italia in 2008, the Movistar rider performed the trick again after making a break with two kilometers to go.

While a group of 21 riders dithered behind, the 29-year-old even had time to straighten his team jersey before claiming the win.

German Andreas Klöden of Team RadioShack was second to take over as race leader while Andy Schleck of Luxemburg and Team Leopard-Trek came in third.

"Winning after all this time is a great feeling," Kiryienka told reporters near the finish line and added "To do so near my adopted hometown (Pamplona) is even more special.

"Our team hasn't got a real leader, so we have to make the most of stages like this one where everybody has a chance to attack."

"On the final climb close to the finish, the whole of my team moved to the front, and then I got away when the rest weren't looking. It was a gamble, but I had nothing to lose," Kiryienka concluded.

Team Saxo Bank-SunGard's strong climber Chris Anker Sørensen finished 4th in today's stage and Told Roadcycling.com and our mobile cycling site Roadcycling.mobi afterwards "I told the other teammates during the stage that I was feeling super strong so they were really there for me all the way and when I finish third in a sprint (the sprint in the chasing pack) it's because I'm in good shape.

Sørensen also praised his teammates "But also Brian (Vandborg), Mads (Christensen) and Nicki (Sørensen) are all doing very well and maybe tomorrow it's going to be their turn to shine while I take a rest in the pack."

Kloeden moved into the overall lead ahead of Spaniards Joaquim Rodriguez (Team Katusha), the stage one winner, and Samuel Sanchez (Team Euskaltel).

Andreas Kloeden won the Tour of the Basque Country outright in 2000 in one of the earliest wins of his career.

He should have no problems defending his lead on Wednesday's stage, a rolling 180 kilometer stage from Villatuerta to Zuia-Murgia.

The 2011 Tour of the Basque Country (Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco 2011) finishes on Saturday April 9, with a 24-kilometer individual time trial in the town of Zalla.

Watch Tour of the Basque Country video highlights in our Roadcycling.com videos section.

Click here for complete stage 2 results.