Vincenzo Nibali has claimed the Tour de France yellow jersey after a daring late break to win the second stage of the race.
The Italian champion pointed to the national flag on his Astana team jersey after winning his first Tour stage at the fourth attempt.
“It’s emotional to be wearing this jersey on my back. I don’t know what to say but the joy is from my home to the stars,” said the Sicilian.
The 29-year-old former Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana champion finished two seconds clear of the field at the end of a punishing 201km ride from York to Sheffield in northern England.
“Having managed to win the pink jersey (of the Giro d’Italia) and the Vuelta and now to wear this one, I don’t think many people apart from Alberto Contador have worn all three,” added Nibali.
Belgian Greg Van Avermaet was second with Michal Kwiatkowski of Poland in third.
Van Avermaet moved up to third in the overall standings with Peter Sagan, who was fourth on this stage and second on Saturday’s opening stage from Leeds to Harrogate, moved into second overall.
The Slovak, winner of the green jersey the last two years, had been the favourite to win this stage but was left behind by Nibali’s break.
Sprinter Marcel Kittel, who started the day in yellow after winning Saturday’s stage, finished almost 20 minutes behind in a group of sprinters.
Sagan’s consolation was to snare the sprinters’ green jersey off Kittel.
“I’m happy because I stayed close to the front. Today was a very hard stage, everyone was watching me and how I moved, then I was attacked by another rider,” said the 24-year-old, who started the day in the white jersey of the best young rider of the tour, a competition he still leads.
“The stage was a little bit crazy but it was OK. I took the green jersey which is good.”
It was a thrilling finish to an exciting stage that featured nine categorised climbs, which eventually made the difference.
Overall contenders Contador and Froome both tried their luck on the short, steep, final Jenkin Road climb before Nibali, one of the overall contenders, used his descending skills to gain a gap on the field.
World champion Rui Costa and Froome gave chase but neither committed fully, each looking to the other to take the lead, and Nibali had just enough to hold on.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
The British crowds have been outstanding, I don't think we had seen a TdF start like this for a very long time! Plus Yorkshire countryside is absolutely amazing. Am usually not a fan of the first (flat) week but the first 2 stages have been epic, especially yesterday's.
Scott Pryde
Expert
On the whole the crowd have actually behaved pretty well, certainly better than the Giro crowds. It's just that a few people ruin it for everyone as is always the case and I dont think it matters what race you are in that is going to happen.
Andy_Roo
Roar Guru
Watching the first two stages has been great and seeing all the GC contenders in serious action so early in the tour has made it even better. The crowds have been massive, probably bigger than ASO expected and with some narrow roads and no barricades in some places we have seen collisions with spectators, crashes and even riders at the back of the peloton having to stop when they run out of room. Some riders have been obviously frustrated by this, knocking cameras out of spectators hands etc. Whilst the crowds are great they should be kept back so as not to interfere with the riders, hopefully ASO will sort this out.