Theo Bos of the Netherlands timed his final sprint perfectly for a second day running to win the Vuelta de Castilla and Leon second stage and remain overall race leader.

The 210-kilometer (130.4-mile) trek from Burgos to Carrion de los Condes in Palencia took Bos 4 hours, 45 minutes, and 55 seconds.

The Cervelo TestTeam sprinter again pipped Rabobank's Australian rider Graeme Brown who finished second, and third-placed Oscar Grau of Spain, who all had the same time.

"I felt much better today than yesterday. But it was quite hard, especially the final that was pretty heavy. It was a long, long stage today," Cervelo TestTeam's Theo Bos said when getting ready for the podium celebration.

"At the beginning of the race a group of four riders attacked and when this group had a gap, then we took control in the bunch in order not give this group too much space. Oscar Pujol (ESP), Joaquín Novoa (ESP) and João Correia (POR) provided great support and were incredible today. They controlled the bunch the entire day until we took the group back."

"With 20 kilometers to go Rabobank increased the speed in the peloton and I think we were left with a group of 20 riders. I thought I was the only one there from our team but at the last moment Stefan (Denifl) was able to make the jump to this group and helped me out in the final. I stayed perfectly positioned in the front in the final kilometers. There were two roundabouts in the last 600 metres and a sharp corner at the 100 metres mark, so it became a pretty technical final. With 200 metres to go Brown was on my right side and made his move, but I was able to pass him and went again to the victory," the proud stage winner and race leader added. "Tomorrow the course will be pretty hard with two hard climbs. My aim is to maintain my position and hopefully get some chances this week."

Cervelo TestTeam's Stefan Denifl finished 8th after helping Bos in the finish.

Team Astana's Alberto Contador of Spain finished sixth with Denis Menchov of Russia eighth, also on the same time.

"We had a bit of everything this stage, we've ridden with lots of rain, fog and wind," Contador commented.

Both pre-race favorites are likely to mount leadership challenges during Friday's 159-kilometer (99-mile) mountain stage from Leon to Ponferrada with its Category 1 Alto del Morredero climb.

"The ascent is not too constant, it's got its rest points and it's possible that not knowing it will work against me," Contador added.