Stage two of the 99th Tour de France, a largely flat 207.5km ride from Visé to Tournai, was the peloton’s third day in Belgium and the first genuine opportunity for the pure sprinters.
The kind terrain and glorious sunshine was good news for the riders injured in crashes on the road to Seraing, including Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quick-Step).
Martin, the biggest name under an injury cloud, fractured his left wrist early on stage one but did not lose time. In addition to numerous bandages on his arms, the German time-trial champion sported a plastic support brace on his damaged wrist.
Conditions were prime for a bunch sprint finish, and despite the gallant efforts of Anthony Roux (FDJ-Big Mat), that is exactly how things ended.
Mark Cavendish (Sky Pro Cycling) narrowly beat a desperate Andre Greipel (Omega Pharma-Quick-Step) to the line, showing that he has the ability to win stages without the help of his Team Sky sprint train.
Australian Matt Goss (Orica-GreenEDGE) grabbed third place after finding himself in a difficult position during the final kilometre.
The absence of German sprinter Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano) in the bunch sprint was a surprise. Reportedly troubled by a stomach bug, Kittel looked a shadow of his usual self, languishing at the back of the field 15km from the finish.
Earlier, a three-man breakaway moved off the front of the main field. King of the Mountains (KOM) leader Michael Morkov (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank) headlined this group in his pursuit of the single KOM point available at the Cote de la Citadelle de Namur. Two Frenchmen – Roux and Christophe Kern (Europcar) – joined the Dane.
Like Martin, Roux is carrying an injury suffered in a crash on stage one. Nursing two sore fingers, the 25-year-old was forced to remove his left arm from the handlebars on cobbled sections of road.
The French pair did not challenge the polka dot jersey on the fourth category climb, allowing Morkov to extend his lead in the classification to three points over Pablo Urtasun Perez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and stage one winner Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale).
Much interest surrounded the intermediate sprint in Soignies at the 153km mark, with 20 points on offer for the first rider over the checkpoint. Kern led the break over the line, with Roux second and Morkov third.
The race for fourth place was a sight to behold as green jersey contenders assembled at the head of the main field. One could be forgiven for thinking it was the battle for the stage victory.
Goss was the “best of the rest” for the second consecutive day, claiming 13 points. In fifth place was another Australian, Mark Renshaw (Rabobank), followed by Cavendish in sixth.
Carefully monitored by a cooperative peloton, the break’s advantage never escaped control. With 30km remaining Kern and Morkov were brought back into the fold, leaving Roux as the lone rider up the road. After being left to dangle briefly, Roux was caught.
Stage three sees riders enter French territory for the first time at this year’s Tour. The 197km trip from Orchies to Boulogne-sur-Mer features six categorised climbs:
• Km 132.0 – Cote de L’Eperche (193m) – 0.7km Category 4 climb at 6.9%
• Km 163.5 – Cote de Mont Violette (173m) – 1.0km Category 3 climb at 9.2%
• Km 181.0 – Cote de Herquelingue (115m) – 1.7km Category 4 climb at 5.8%
• Km 185.0 – Cote de Quéhen (109m) – 1.4km Category 4 climb at 5.9%
• Km 190.5 – Cote du Mont Lambert (150m) – 1.3km Category 3 climb at 8.4%
• Km 197.0 – Boulogne-sue-Mer (63m) – 0.7km Category 4 climb at 7.4%
Like the finish of stage one, but slightly steeper, the final 700m to Boulogne-sue-Mer is set for an uphill sprint finish.
Sagan, yellow jersey holder Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Nissan), Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky Pro Cycling) are four likely protagonists.
If a breakaway does not stay away, the puncheurs will come out to play.
Tour de France Stage 2 Results
Rider, Team, Points
1. CAVENDISH Mark, SKY PRO CYCLING, 04h 56′ 59″
2. GREIPEL Andre, OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK-STEP, 04h 56′ 59″+ 00′ 00″
3. GOSS Matthew Harley, ORICA-GREENEDGE, 04h 56′ 59″+ 00′ 00″
4. VEELERS Tom, ARGOS-SHIMANO, 04h 56′ 59″+ 00′ 00″
5. PETACCHI Alessandro, LAMPRE-ISD, 04h 56′ 59″ + 00′ 00″
6. SAGAN Peter, LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE, 04h 56′ 59″+ 00′ 00″
7. HUTAROVICH Yauheni, FDJ-BIG MAT 04h 56′ 59″+ 00′ 00″
8. HAEDO Juan Jose, SAXO BANK-TINKOFF BANK 04h 56′ 59″+ 00′ 00″
9. RENSHAW Mark, RABOBANK, 04h 56′ 59″+ 00′ 00″
10. FARRAR Tyler, GARMIN-SHARP, 04h 56′ 59″ + 00′ 00″
Tour de France Points Classification
Rider, Team, Points
1. SAGAN Peter, LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE, 78
2. CAVENDISH Mark, SKY PRO CYCLING, 63
3. CANCELLARA Fabian, RADIOSHACK-NISSAN, 55
4. GOSS Matthew Harley, ORICA-GREENEDGE, 52
5. BOASSON HAGEN Edvald, SKY PRO CYCLING, 42
Tour de France KOM Classification
Rider, Team, Points
1. MORKOV Michael, SAXO BANK-TINKOFF BANK, 4
2. SAGAN Peter, LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE, 1
3. URTASUN PEREZ Pablo, EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI, 1
Tour de France Overall Standings
Rider, Team, Time, Gaps
1. CANCELLARA Fabian, RADIOSHACK-NISSAN, 10h 02′ 31″
2. WIGGINS Bradley, SKY PROCYCLING, 10h 02′ 38″ + 00′ 07″
3. CHAVANEL Sylvain, OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK-STEP, 10h 02′ 38″ + 00′ 07″
4. VAN GARDEREN Tejay, BMC RACING, 10h 02′ 41″ + 00′ 10″
5. HAGEN Edvald Boasson, SKY PRO CYCLING, 10h 02′ 42″ + 00′ 11″
6. MENCHOV Denis, KATUSHA, 10h 02′ 44″ + 00′ 13″
7. GILBERT Philippe, BMC RACING, 10h 02′ 44″ + 00′ 13″
8. EVANS Cadel, BMC RACING, 10h 02′ 48″ + 00′ 17″
9. NIBALI Vincenzo, LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE, 10h 02′ 49″ + 00′ 18″
10. HESJEDAL Ryder, GARMIN-SHARP, 10h 02′ 49″ + 00′ 18″
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
I did not know Fabian tweeted that. What a man.
liquorbox_
Guest
It is interesting that he is not called a wheel sucker for not doing his own work, I think this is great tactics, but after the grief Gerrans got earlier in the season it is a bit of a double standard
Bones506
Roar Guru
The highlight for stage two has to be Cancellara’s tweet that the flowers and the Lion he claims for remaining in yellow at the end of the stage will be given to the wife and daughter of Wouter Weylandt who won his last race in roughly the same place before his tragic passing last year. Spartacus is a true legend of the sport and clearly a gentleman.
Bones506
Roar Guru
He did show some experience and nous beyond his years when he snagged Griepel's wheel and hung on. He was completely alone and showed maturity above his age and experience. Inclined to agree that he will be a dominant Classics rider - top 5 in the cobbled classics this year is a great indocator that it is a matter of time. He has the top end to be right in the mix in bunch sprints - like anything - you need to develope your skill set - perhaps developing a big kick is the next iece of weaponry he looks to develop. He is a class rider - no one disputes that. I get the feeling we will be writing abotu him for many years to come.
Max
Guest
Renshaw unlucky to not get a run. His form is good should see him on the podium on at least 1 of the sprint stages.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Stage 3 really suits the puncheurs (Sagan, Valverde, Boasson Hagen, Gilbert). Cav has now won 21 stages at the Tour...unbelievable!
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Sagan's inexperience in bunch sprints against high quality riders was highlighted on yesterday's sprint for fourth in the int. sprint - he doesn't quite have it down. But practice makes perfect, as they say. Personally, I see him staying in the mould of the puncheur and not moving too much towards being an out and out sprinter. In saying that, though, if anyone could be both...it'd probably be the big Slovak.
Bones506
Roar Guru
Golden age of sprinting. Kittel is a bit sick and we haven't seen him fire yet and I suspect Valverde will pop up in the next day or so. Stage 3 suits Sagan.
Bones506
Roar Guru
Do not underestimate Renshaw's skill at pushing through a bunch - No one else in the Peleton is as good as him at putting a sprinter into position and covering from 1.0km to 250m to go - Cavendish has a huge number of wins thanks to Renshaw - he has not done it all on his own. Renshaw is having to re-define himself - as Kit notes below - as a sprinter. It will come. It takes time. Cav benefitted greatly from Goss' move last night.
Mat Coch
Roar Guru
Kinda get the feeling Sagan is being put through a bit of an apprenticeship. He's quick but doesn't yet have that experience to win in a field of top class sprinters. It'll come, and then it'll be a question of if his kick is good enough to break the backs of Cav and co. Has there ever been a better era for sprinters? I think NOT!
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Renshaw is still learning what racing for himself is all about, I think he'll get there eventually. He's a sharp racer!
Zee Ko
Roar Rookie
Told ya Cav didn't need a lead out team. Man's close to unbeatable in bunch sprints, always seems to find space even when there seems to be none. Mark Renshaw could learn a bit of that from him, unfortunately.
Bones506
Roar Guru
orica-GreenEDGE lined up very nicely and looked to pounce at the 1.3km mark. Lotto pushed them off but great to see the Aussies taking chances and looking to get amongst it. Both Goss and Cav showed that they don't need trains to push for a podium in the sprints. Griepel had the perfect lead out. Both oss and cav got isolated. In fact - Cav worked off Goss' wheel to set himself up. I also loved seeing sagan just sit on Griepel's wheel the whole way in from about 1km to go.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Kittel's twitter feed is great. Was lucky enough to meet him after the final stage of the 2011 Herald Sun Tour. Hope he gets back to his best before the close of his Tour.
Bones506
Roar Guru
Completely agree. BMC now how to navigate the last part of the stage very well and avoid crashes and pile ups.
Bones506
Roar Guru
Based on Kittel Tweet after the race he was suffering from a bowel issue which upset him.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
BMC were impressive - Marcus Burghardt in particular. They looked in great touch. Good pick up. It's crucial for GC contenders to keep out of trouble even on the runs into the finish that appear non-demanding.
Pacemaker
Roar Rookie
The claim by an SBS reporter that Marcel Kittel was suffering no more than a case of nerves was nonsensical!
SilverStreakCycling
Roar Rookie
I personally was impressed with BMC and the strength they showed as a team and in support of Cadel, keeping him at the front and out of trouble.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
It was great to see an intermediate sprint being treated in such a fashion! So many guys gunning for green.