Peter Sagan Wins Tour De France Stage Two

Last updated : 03 July 2016 By CNS Sport

Tinkoff's Peter Sagan has taken the victory on the second stage of the 103rd Tour De France in Cherbourg.

With Mark Cavendish proudly in the yellow jersey after winning the opening stage something he has long wanted to do and determined to defend it, although he thought it was unlikely, stage two was again in Normandy and this time, started from Saint-Lô, a twin town of Christchurch in Dorset, which had hosted the media centre at the National Equestrian Centre and a town which had certainly embraced the race with every shop, hotel, and building displaying something to do with the race, as well hosting a cultural festival for the residents and visitors.

Paul Voss of Bora Argon 18 was on the attack straight from the gun and was soon joined on this 183km stage to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin by Vegard Breen (Fortuneo-Vital Concept), Cesare Benedetti (Bora-Argon 18) and Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo).

Four kilometres in and they had a lead of 2.20 which had gone out to 5.25 before Vegard Breen (Fortuneo-Vital Concept) won the KOM prize on the côte de Torigny-les-Villes climb.

Twelve kilometres later, Jasper Stuyven took the KOM climb at côte de Montabot.

On Fabio Aru's 26th birthday, the peloton covered 39.5kms in the opening hour of racing as the rain continued to come down.

Voss dropped back slightly from the other free and it was Jasper Stuyven who took the next climb at the Côte de Montpinchon with one more left at the end of the stage in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin.

Voss was able to get back to join Breen, Stuyven and Benedetti who were six minutes ahead of a peloton which saw a crash involving ten to fifteen riders including Tony Martin, who admitted to being tired due to staying up to watch Germny beat Italy on penalties and Alberto Contador.

Going through the busy streets of Coutances, Contador was able to get back to the peloton who were 6.30 behind the four out front, riding at an average speed of 41.4kmph for the second hour.

The gap stood at six minutes as the front quartet took the first sprint with 75.5kms to go with Benedetti taking the points ahead of Voss at Port Bail with Greipel leading home the peloton.

Voss, Benedetti, Stuyven and Breen covered 43km in the third hour of racing whilst keeping a lead of just under six minutes which dropped to three minutes with twenty kilometres left

Despite the rain the crowds were out in force to see Benedetti drop out of the front group who were heading towards the category three Cote de La Glacerie which had gradients of 14% with a lead of 2.30.

That was down to 2.17 as the front three got into Cherbourg-en-Cotentin ahead of the peloton which had a Team Sky rider on the front.

With 8.4kms to go, Stuvyen, who was only ten seconds down on Cavendish's yellow jersey, kicked off and went for it.

Richie Porte of BMC suffered a mechanical as Jasper Stuyven rode through Cherbourg's town centre with a lead of 1.19 and then got onto the Cote de La Glacerie.

Breen and Paul Voss was mopped up by the peloton which had Tinkoff riders on the front.

Stuvyen took the KOM points with a lead of 1.02 to Cavendish's group but the peloton were now in view.

Stuvyen was caugtht with 500m's to go. Alaphilippe led but it was Peter Sagan who won in 4.20.51 and take over the lead of the race beating Julien Alaphilippe by a bike length with Alejandro Valverde of Movistar in third place.

Ireland's Dan Martin was fourth with Chris Froome in tenth place.

"I am very surprised I won," Sagan said.  "I saw two guys I did not know I had won but I am very happy. Everyone came in the front when I started the front. Alaphillipe was close to me but I beat him. It's unbelievable that I am in the yellow jersey for the first time and this is something special." 

 

 

Pictures copyright of CNS Sport.