South African Jay Thomson finished in the lead pack on Stage 2, to retain the overall race lead at the Tour of Portugal professional road cycling stage race, on Friday.

Thomson’s United Healthcare teammates helped bring back a nine-rider breakaway group, three kilometres from the finish of the 190.7km stage, from Oliveira do Bairro to Trofa, to deliver the first bunch sprint of the 12-day tour.

Italian sprinter Francesco Lasca (Caja Rural) won the chaotic final dash just holding off fast-finishing South African, Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (MTN Qhubeka), who finished second.

Thomson suffered a minor scare when he was held up behind a crash with two kilometres remaining, but he was quick to resume and given the same time as the winner.

The 26-year-old from Krugersdorp, was unhurt and smiling broadly at the podium ceremony, where he was presented with the leader’s yellow jersey and the blue jersey as leader of the King of the Mountains competition.

Stage 3 on Saturday is an undulating 176.1km haul from Vila Nova de Cerveira to Fafe.