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Tour de France 2016 Stage 2: Sagan wins to take yellow

Tom Dodd
Cycling

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By Thomas Dodd

  • World Road Race Champion Peter Sagan wins stage two to take race lead after uphill sprint finish
  • Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana finish in main group
  • Alberto Contador and Richie Porte lose time

NORMANDY, FRANCE – Slovakian Peter Sagan moved into the yellow jersey after winning the second stage of the Tour de France from Saint Lo to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin.

The Tinkoff rider, wearing the world champion’s rainbow jersey, outsprinted young french hopeful Julian Alaphilippe on the short incline up to the finish after 183km of racing to claim his first stage victory  in the event since 2013 and assume the lead of race for the first time in his career.

Pre-race favourites Nairo Quintana and Chris Froome came home safely in the main pack immediately behind Sagan, and Quintana’s Movistar teammate Alejandro Valverde even gained four bonus seconds for finishing third on the day.

After yesterday’s completely flat roll out from the Mont Saint Michel, the second day of racing provided the peloton with a series of short climbs, which predictably split the main field as a series of breakaways attempted daring efforts to claim the days spoils.

The lone survivor of the escapees in the final kilometres was Trek-Segafredo’s Jasper Stuyven, who managed to hold off the chasing pack until the final 500m before being swallowed up.

It was another tough day in the saddle for Alberto Contador. The Tinkoff team leader, who crashed on the opening stage losing skin, lost more than just flesh on day two after another tumble saw him cross the line 48 seconds behind his rivals.

Bad luck also befell Riche Porte. Having been safely in the main group approaching the stage finish, the BMC rider punctured, losing a minute and forty five seconds in the final reckoning.

The man with the yellow jersey on his shoulders for the day’s riding was Britain’s Mark Cavendish, but the Dimension Data sprinter was dropped in the closing stages to relinquish his position at the head of the race.

Tomorrow’s stage takes the riders and teams from Granville to Angers, and the 223.5km route has all the characteristics needed to finish in another bunch sprint.

Stage 2 result: Saint Lo to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin (183km)

  1. Peter Sagan (SVK) Tinkoff 4h20m51s
  2. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Etixx-QuickStep +04 seconds
  3. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar +06
  4. Daniel Martin (IRE) Etizz-QuickStep +10
  5. Michael Matthews (AUS) Orica GreenEdge +10
  6. Wilco Kilderman (HOL) Team Lotto Jumbo NL +10
  7. Tony Gallopin (FRA) Lotto Soudal +10
  8. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) BMC Racing Team +10
  9. Bauka Mollema (HOL) Trek-Segafredo +10
  10. Chris Froome (GBR) Sky +10

Brits

13. Adam Yates, Orica +10 seconds
46. Geraint Thomas, Sky +24
86. Mark Cavendish, Dimension Data +1m45
155. Daniel McLay, Fortuneo Concept +6m51
191. Stephen Cummings, Dimension Data +8m15
192. Ian Stannard, Sky +8m15
193. Luke Rowe, Sky +8m15

Overall Standings, after Stage 2

  1. Peter Sagan (SVK) Tinkoff 08h44m32s
  2. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Etixx-QuickStep +08 seconds
  3. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar +10
  4. Warren Barguil (FRA) Giant Alpecin +14
  5. Chris Froome (GBR) Sky +14
  6. Greg van Avermaet (BEL) BMC +14
  7. Nairo Quintana (COL) Movistar +14
  8. Roman Kreuziger (CZE) Tinkoff +14
  9. Simon Gerrans (AUS) Orica +14
  10. Daniel Martin (IRE) Etixx- QuickStep +14

Brits

21. Adam Yates, Orica +14
46. Geraint Thomas, Sky +38
76. Mark Cavendish, Dimension Data +1m49
138. Daniel McLay, Fortuneo Concept +7m05
172. Ian Stannard, Sky +8m29
177. Stephen Cummings, Dimension Data +8m29
182. Luke Rowe, Sky +8m29