[VIDEO] 2015 Tour de France highlights: Stage 2 blog, results

Stage Result:

Inclement weather shook the 2015 Tour de France to its core as pre-race favourites Vincenzo Nibali and Nairo Quintana lost over a minute to rivals Alberto Contador and Chris Froome.

Beginning in the Dutch city of Utrecht, the scene of Rohan Dennis’ monumental opening day victory, stage two would take the peloton through the city of Rotterdam and out to Zélande. While the 166 kilometre-long stage was predicted to be affected by crosswinds and potential rain no one could have quite predicted the carnage that would follow.

The breakaway of the day would be established by Perrig Quémeneur (Europcar), Jan Barta (Bora – Argon 18), Stef Clement (IAM Cycling) and Armindo Fonseca (Bretagne-Séché Environnement). Allowed a maximum time advantage of just two minutes and 45 seconds, all of the quartet would eventually be caught by the peloton shortly after the single intermediate sprint point in Rotterdam.

With approximately 50 kilometres of the stage remaining the race was blown wide open in the crosswinds and wet weather by Etixx – Quick-Step, Lotto Soudal and Tinkoff – Saxo. Initially distancing Team Movistar’s Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde by roughly a minute, the chase group would later swell to include defending champion Vincenzo Nibali and numerous other general classification rider.

Unfortunately Rohan Dennis’ stint in the illustrious Maillot Jaune would be cut short after he too found himself distanced and unable to return to the front group. With the BMC Racing Team focused on protecting the interests of team leader Tejay Van Garderen the young Maillot Jaune was left to fend for himself.

Despite the combined forces of the Movistar, Astana and LottoNL – Jumbo teams the chase group were unable to make significant headway in to the advantage of the lead group containing Tejay Van Garderen, Alberto Contador and Chris Froome. By the time the chase group containing Vincenzo Nibali and Nairo Quintana crossed the finishing line in Zélande they had ceded one minute and twenty-eight seconds to the lead group, a significant gap just two days in to the race.

Proving to the be the strongest sprinter on the day, Andre Greipel outsprinted Peter Sagan to the line in a tightly contested finish. Fading fast in the sprint Mark Cavendish would eventually finish the stage in fourth after opening up the afterburners with roughly 300 metres remaining.

With time bonifications of ten, six and four seconds rewards to the first three riders across the line the Maillot Jaune was Fabian Cancellara’s for the taking if he could finish third. Just pipping the ‘Manx Missile’ to the line for third and the four bonus seconds, the wily Cancellara leap frogged up the general classification standings to dramatically snatch the Maillot Jaune from Tony Martin and leave Etixx – Quick-Step empty handed.

2015 Tour de France – Stage 2 Results:
01. Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal)
02. Peter Sagan (Tinkoff – Saxo)
03. Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing)
04. Mark Cavendish (Etixx – Quick-Step)
05. Daniel Oss (BMC Racing Team)
06. Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team)
07. Christopher Froome (Sky Pro Cycling)
08. Tom Dumoulin (Giant – Alpecin)
09. Tony Martin (Etixx – Quick-Step)
10. Warren Barguil (Giant – Alpecin)

2015 Tour de France – General Classification after Stage 2:
01. Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing)… 03:44:01
02. Tony Martin (Etixx – Quick-Step)… +0:03″
03. Tom Dumoulin (Giant – Alpecin)… +0:06″
04. Peter Sagan (Tinkoff – Saxo)… +0:33″
05. Geraint Thomas (Sky Pro Cycling)… +0:35″
06. Daniel Oss (BMC Racing Team)… +0:42″
07. Rigoberto Uran (Etixx – Quick-Step)… +0:42″
08. Tejay Van Garderen (BMC Racing Team)… +0:44″
09. Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team)… +0:48″
10. Christopher Froome (Sky Pro Cycling)… +0:48″

Stage Preview:

The 2015 Tour de France continues, with Stage 2 being a pancake flat 166 kilometres from Utrecht to Zélande. Join The Roar for live coverage from 8:30pm (AEST).

While the stage profile barely rises six metres above sea level, it could see the peloton torn to shreds by wet and windy weather.

The route brings the riders even closer to the coastline, and often there is very little protection from the elements up on the raised embankments of the Dutch polders.

The general classification contenders will be on red alert due to the high probability of crosswinds, and despite it being just the second stage the pre-race favourites will be looking to exploit any opportunities.

After using the crosswinds to his leader’s advantage in 2013, Tinkoff–Saxo’s venerable road captain Michael Rogers could again play a decisive role.

On paper it should be a day for the sprinters, even if inclement weather does affect the stage. The Dutch and Belgian teams, such as Etixx-Quick Step and Lotto-Soudal, have years of experience competing in races blown apart by crosswinds, so Mark Cavendish and Andre Greipel should be in contention.

In form and with a strong team, experienced at splitting races during fierce crosswinds, the favourite must be the ‘Manx Missile’, Cavendish. However, the Isle of Man sprinter will face tough competition from the likes of Greipel, Alexander Kristoff, John Degenkolb and any number of plucky strongmen, such as Fabian Cancellara, who might decide to try their luck within the final few kilometres.

If the conditions make it a stage for rouleurs of the flatlands, then Kristoff could very well be celebrating his 28th birthday today with an illustrious Tour de France stage victory.

Join The Roar from 8:30pm (AEST) for live coverage of what could prove to be a crucial stage in the 2015 Tour de France.