Lopez wins, Froome fourth in Tour of the Alps second stage

Milan: Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez won the second stage of the Tour of the Alps on Tuesday with Britain's four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome finishing fourth.

Astana rider Lopez pipped France's Thibaut Pinot and fellow Colombian Ivan Sosa on the line after the 145km ride between Lavarone and l'Alpe di Pampeago.

Team Sky's Froome crossed four seconds behind Lopez as he continues his preparations for next month's Giro d'Italia.

All four riders were involved in a late dash for the finish line, with the Colombian clinging on over the final metres to come out on top.

The victory was the second for the Astana team after Pello Bilbao took the opening stage with a well-timed attack 5km from the line.

The 32-year-old Froome has been allowed to continue competing despite his case pending with the International Cycling Union's anti-doping unit after an adverse analytical finding for the asthma drug salbutamol at the Vuelta a Espana last September.

Froome has already finished 10th in the Ruta del Sol and 34th in Tirreno-Adriatico this year and is using the Tour of the Alps — formerly the Giro del Trentino — as his last warm-up for the Giro d'Italia, which starts on May 4.

ea/bc