Michael Albasini (GreenEDGE) won his second consecutive stage of the Volta a Catalunya today to remain in the red jersey of race leader.

The Swiss sprinted home ahead of Dario Cataldo (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) and Team Sky’s Rigoberto Uran at the end of a 161km stage in Girona.

Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) finished in the first group of 30 riders on the stage, and stands 31^st overall, 1.32 behind Albasini, having worked hard for Uran in the closing kilometre.

Albasini said: “I went so hard on the uphill, and I knew there were no pure sprinters left. I thought this made me one of the fastest in the small bunch.

“I suffered a lot on the last climb, so I wasn’t sure if my legs were fresh for the sprint. I thought [Dario] Cataldo [Omega Pharma – Quickstep] would be one of the fastest guys, so I went on his wheel. When he moved up, I followed, and in the end, he gave me the perfect leadout. The sprint could not have gone better for me.”

Wiggins’ efforts on behalf of his teammate indicate the British road race champion and Paris-Nice winner is in good form ahead of tomorrow’s Queen stage, a slog of nearly 211km from La Vall D’en Bas to Port Aine that takes in two first category and two hors category climbs.

Team Sky directeur sportif, Sean Yates, said: “Tomorrow is another kettle of fish and involves some serious climbing, with 4,000 metres of height gained which equates to something you might find in a big stage of the Tour de France.”

Former Irish national road race champion, Dan Martin, now a resident of Girona, made the most of local knowledge to launch an attack on the summit of Alt dels Angels just 14km from home, descending with Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD) and Matteo Carrara (Vacansoleil-DCM) and pulling out a 10 second lead.

But a peloton headed by Wiggins reeled in the trio to set up a sprint among climbers that ultimately brought further triumph for GreenEDGE.

Wiggins is the only member of an elite group of contenders for overall classification to remain just 92 seconds behind Albasini. Andy Schleck is 3.41 behind the race leader, while 2009 winner, Alejandro Valverde, lost further time today with mechanical issues and stands 101^st on general classification, 4.01 behind Albasini.

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Volta a Catalunya stage two

1) Michael Albasini (SWI) – GreenEdge Cycling Team – 3:52:07
2) Dario Cataldo (ITA) – Omega Pharma – QuickStep
3) Rigoberto Uran Uran (COL) – Sky Procycling
4) Damiano Cunego (ITA) – Lampre – ISD
5) Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) – Garmin-Barracuda
6) Sergio Pardilla Belllón (SPA) – Movistar
7) Arnold Jeannesson (FRA) – FDJ-Big Mat
8) Alberto Losada Alguacil (SPA)- Katusha Team
9) Richie Porte (AUS)- Sky Procycling
10) Robert Kiserlovski (CRO)- Pro Team Astana

General classification

1) Michael Albasini (SWI) – GreenEdge Cycling Team 7:12:11
2) Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) – Garmin-Barracuda +1.32
3) Mikael Cherel (FRA) – AG2R La Mondiale
4) Steve Morabito (SWI)- BMC Racing Team
5) Arnold Jeannesson (FRA)- FDJ-Big Mat
6) Daniel Martin (IRL)- Garmin-Barracuda
7) Richie Porte (AUS)- Sky Procycling
8) Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL)- Lotto Belisol Team
9) Jakob Fuglsang (DEN)- RadioShack-Nissan-Trek
10) Damiano Cunego (ITA)- Lampre-ISD