TDF 2013, Stage 2 Delivers New Yellow to Finish Line

Corsica, France , June 30, 2013

By Jen Benepe

The stage from Bastia to Ajaccio managed to upset the apple cart at the Tour today, putting yesterday’s Maillot Jaune into a 17 minute

bakelants wins stage 2 TDF 2013 copy — Jan Bakelants wins stage 2 by one second in Ajaccio, TDF 2013 (c) ASO

deficit, and delivering new points to new riders for an entirely different podium today.

The Yellow Jersey went to Jan Bakelants of Team RadioShack, with Peter Sagan right behind him coming in second. David Millar who came in fourth yesterday will be second in the general classification.

“I saw that, in the last 500 metres that I still had a gap and I said, ‘Come one, hold this. It’s going to be the nicest day of your life,” said Bakelants after the race. He is the first Belgian to wear the yellow jersey since Philippe Gilbert in stage two of the 2011 Tour de France.

The day was what the French might call a complete bouleversement, a product of four steep climbs, and fast team work that saw several breaks in front, most pulled in except the very last one by leader Bakelants.

It was a brilliant win by the Belgian rider who made it just to the line as the galloping peloton came in behind him one second back.

Pierre Roland, a French rider for Europcar won the Polka Dot jersey after riding aggressively through the mountain stages, while Blel Kadri of the AGR2 Mondiale team who was in a break for more than half of the stage now holds the distinction of being most combative rider. Despite his large time deficit Marcel Kittel still holds the Green Jersey.

A lot of bruised and battered riders started off on today’s stage 2 of the Tour. Three crashes before the finish took down many of the best sprinters before the final 3 km into Bastia yesterday.

One of the big questions of the day at the start was whether Marcel Kittel, a sprinter, could retain the Yellow Jersey through a semi-mountainous stage. That question was answered by the second climb, as all of the sprinters were coughed off the back of the peloton.

BASTIA/AJACCIO — Marcel Kittel, yesterday’s Yelllow Jersey winner, lost his title today, and lost more than 11 minutes to the leaders.

Kittel was able to take advantage of a massive crash just kilometers before the finish in Bastia yesterday that took out all of the top sprinters and many of the general classification riders.

But today’s stage would take riders through four climbs, none very major but enough to put a dent in the legs of a classic sprinter.

In the early kilometers of the stage a four man breakaway was established with Ruben Perez (ESP) EUS, David Veilleux (CAN) EUC, Lars Boom (NED) BEL, and Blel Kadri (FRA) ALM. Julien Simon was trying to bridge the gap between the leaders and the peloton, but could not make it.

Behind them the French team Sosajun was leading the peloton in the chase. At the intermediate sprint in Castello di Rostino 33 km from the start, the four break riders took the top sprint points, followed by a sprint in the peloton which Andre Greipel won.

The full results for the sprint at the 33km mark are: Lars Boom (BEL) 20pts; David Veilleux (EUC) 17pts; Blel Kadri (ALM) 15pts; Ruben

Perez Moreno (EUS) 13pts, followed by Andre Greipel (LTB) 11pts – at 2 minutes 40seconds behind the leaders, then Peter Sagan (CAN) 10pts, Dani Van Poppel (VCD) 9pts, Mark Cavendish (OPQ) 8pts, Matt Goss (OGE) 7pts, and Kristoff (KAT) 6pts with Marcel Kittel 14th gaining 2 points.

Behind the leaders four teams, Lotto-Belisol, Omega Pharma-Quickstep, Argos-Shimano and Cannondale shared the work as they headed for the first climbs of the day,the first at the Col de Bellagranajo, a category 3 climb with a 4.6 percent grade for 6.6 km.

At 92 km to the finish, the four break leaders were still ahead of the peloton, but their advantage had narrowed to 1 minutes 45 seconds as they climbed Bellagranajo.

Team Sky came to the front of the chase peloton, including Stannard who was in the crash yesterday, bringing along their lead rider CHris Froome. Right behind them was the Saxo-Tinkoff team with their leader Alberto Contador.

Ahead among the leaders, the Euskaltel rider Ruben Perez-Moreno who was 18th yesterday in stage 1 was in the best position to consolidate a good time for the stage. But Lars Boom was the first over the mountain picking up the most points for King of the Mountain. The distance from the peloton continued to narrow, to 1 minute and 30 seconds.

Riders passed craggy mountain peaks filled with snow, and the temperature dropped as they headed again for the next Col de la Serra, a category 2 climb of 5.2 km with an average grade of 6.9 percent. But a winding descent greeted the riders before they would make the next climb.

As the peloton neared the summit of the first col, the advantage of the leaders had narrowed to only 30 seconds, but it grew again to 50 seconds after the peloton started their descent.

A split formed on the climb as the gradient increased on the Col de la Serra, with the Francais des Jeux and Europcar riders Blel Kadri and Canadian David Veilleux dusting Perez Moreno and Lars Boom.

Behind them Thomas Voeckler (EUC) took a flyer midway through the climb on the Col de la Serra, bolting off the front of the peloton. At the back, Marcel Kittel was being left behind. Among the stragglers was also Dani van Poppel and Mark Cavendish.

Voeckler then easily passed the two dropped leaders, Perez Moreno and Lars Boom. Remember Voeckler won the polka dot jersey in the 2012 Tour.

As they neared the summit, Blel Kadri of Ag2r La Mondiale was in the lead, but Voeckler was getting a round of resounding cheers from the French crowd as he chased down the leaders.

Though Voeckler won the points, he was soon consumed by the peloton led by Francais des Jeux riders steaming up the col. Then David Veilleux was caught.

Kittel was also catching up as they neared the summit of the Col de la Serra, but it looked certain that he would lose the Yellow Jersey today.

The most difficult climb of the day, the Col de la Vizzanova was next, with Blel Kadri still ahead on the slightly steeper climb of 4.6 km, and an average grade of 6.5 percent, but with intermittent 9 grade sections.

The Francais des Jeux team steamed off the front on the Vizzanova, and put a major dent in the peloton behind that splintered. Behind FDJ was Europcar, then some riders from BMC, Sky and Saxo-Tinkoff.

Then Kadri had a mechanical on the side of the road, as the Peloton streamed up the col behind him. Though most of the sprinters had been dropped–Kittel, Cavendish, Kristoff, van Poppel– who were more than 3:40 minutes back of the leaders, and joined by teammate Tony Martin–Peter Sagan was still in the peloton.

With 2 km to get to the top of the Vizzazona, he still had 13 seconds ahead of the pack. Europcar rider Pierre Rolland joined Kadri briefly, but even after dropping back slightly he was ahead of the peloton as they neared the summit. If you recall Rolland was the best young rider in the 2011 Tour de France after steaming up the front of the Alpe d’Huez, and in 2012, he won the stage at La Toussuire.

Meanwhile, the stragglers off the back increased their deficit to more than 4 minutes.

Brice Feillu of Sojasun soon joined Kadri at the front as they raced for the summit together. The gap was 34 seconds to the main field. But Kadri broke, Rolland followed, and after cresting the summit Rolland managed to break from Kadri and maintain the lead down the winding 30 km descent from Vizzavona.

There was only one climb left in this second stage of the Tour, the category 3 Col du Salario before descending to the finish in Ajaccio, and Rolland continued in the lead.

But with 46 km to go, Rolland gives up and waits for the peloton. Team FDJ was responsible for setting the pace, and fracturing the race behind them, managing to drop Marcel Kittel and put him into an ugly deficit, now 6 minutes back. Also among the stragglers was Kristoff, Greipel, van Poppel and Cavendish.

Among the sprinters, only Peter Sagan was still in the peloton, with one more climb on the menu coming up.

U.S. rider Brent Brookwalter took the lead at the front for the BMC team, in preparation either for a move by Phillipe Gilbert, or to keep teammate Cadel Evans (Yellow Jersey 2011 Tour) ahead for the general classification.

Behind them, the Yellow Jersey of Marcel Kittel was more than 7 minutes behind. A final climb at the Cote du Salario still lay ahead, a 7 mile, category 3 climb.

As the peloton reached the 25 km to go mark, Kittel and the rest of the straggle group was more than 8 minutes behind. At the head of the peloton, the Francais des Jeux, BMC, Sky, and RadioShack riders were coming to the front and each team was trying to drive the pace towards the Cote du Salario.

Ahead of them was steep ascent as well as a tricky, winding descent to the finish. Dave Millar of the Garmin Sharp team who was 4th overall in yesterday’s stage had the most to gain towards a Yellow Jersey by being in the lead group. All of the top three stage one finishers were more than 8 minutes behind–Kittel, van Poppel, and Kristoff. No one would be able to hold onto yesterday’s jersey.

About 1.5 km before the start of the last climb, the big teams were lining up for the final push. This section might be a decisive one. The Sky Team managed to manuever to the front as they took the turns through Ajaccio. Then Juan Antonio Flecha attacked, and Cyril Gautier followed.

Behind them Cadel Evans was riding to the front of the pack: Chris Froome then surfaced to the front of the peloton, with Evans close behind him.

The ten second advantage of the two lead riders was soon diminished as they reached the summit of the Cote du Salario.

race route tdf 2013 stage 2 Bastia to Ajaccio copy — The route from Bastia to Ajaccio today in Stage 2, TDF 2013

Then Chris Froome took a flyer off the front, riding the bridge the gap to the leaders. Cadel Evans made an attempt to follow the attack.

Ahead on the descent, Cyril Gautier of the Europcar team was in the lead. Froome was in pursuit but would soon be pulled in by the peloton by a 10 km ride to the finish.

Behind them all were the stragglers now more than 10 minutes back.

Alberto Contador’s team Saxo-Tinkoff was taking the lead now, with Cadel Evans right on their wheel. None of the leaders were worried about the Europcar rider ahead.

With speeds approaching 40 miles per hour in the peloton, and Gautier only 6 seconds ahead, it was only a matter of time before Gautier would be caught at 7.3 km to the finish.

Sylvain Chavanel, who was celebrating his 34th birthday today, then made an attack off the front, and was joined quickly by a group of six riders, an Euskatel rider, Astana, Lampre and RadioShack rider. Behind them in the peloton, the lime green jerseys of Cannondale, Peter Sagan’s team, was leading the chase.

Inside the 5 km to go, the six leaders were still ahead by 10 seconds. Birthday boy Chavanel was leading the pace.

With 1.5 miles to go, the lead group still had 8 seconds ahead, but the peloton was racing behind them to catch up. And even though the

Cannondale team of Peter Sagan was down a few riders who were shedded on the hills, they had enough strength to keep bridging the gap to the leaders.

But RadioShack rider Jan Bakelants managed to break from the lead group, and crossed the line in first place, giving him the Yellow Jersey.

By the middle of stage 2, there was a rumor circulating that the Green Jersey points would be neutralized, as the Yellow Jersey classification times were. But so far, officials had not budged on the matter.

Among those caught in the crash yesterday were Tejay van Garderen, Mark Cavendish, Peter Sagan, Andre Greipel, Tony Martin and Phillipe Gilbert. Two important Sky Team riders were also caught up in the carnage, Richie Porte and Geraint Thomas.

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Overall individual time classification

Total distance covered: 369 KM

RANK	RIDER	RIDER NO.	TEAM	TIMES	GAP

1.	BELBAKELANTS Jan	42	RADIOSHACK LEOPARD	08h 40′ 03”
2.	GBRMILLAR David	176	GARMIN – SHARP	08h 40′ 04”	+ 00′ 01”
3.	FRASIMON Julien	218	SOJASUN	08h 40′ 04”	+ 00′ 01”
4.	RSAIMPEY Daryl	185	ORICA GREENEDGE	08h 40′ 04”	+ 00′ 01”
5.	NORBOASSON HAGEN Edvald	2	SKY PROCYCLING	08h 40′ 04”	+ 00′ 01”
6.	AUSGERRANS Simon	181	ORICA GREENEDGE	08h 40′ 04”	+ 00′ 01”
7.	POLKWIATKOWSKI Michal	153	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP	08h 40′ 04”	+ 00′ 01”
8.	UZBLAGUTIN Sergey	206	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	08h 40′ 04”	+ 00′ 01”
9.	FRARIBLON Christophe	89	AG2R LA MONDIALE	08h 40′ 04”	+ 00′ 01”
10.	AUSEVANS Cadel	31	BMC RACING TEAM	08h 40′ 04”	+ 00′ 01”
11.	IRLROCHE Nicolas	97	TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF	08h 40′ 04”	+ 00′ 01”
12.	FRABARDET Romain	82	AG2R LA MONDIALE	08h 40′ 04”	+ 00′ 01”
13.	BELVAN DEN BROECK Jurgen	21	LOTTO-BELISOL	08h 40′ 04”	+ 00′ 01”
14.	ESPVALVERDE Alejandro	121	MOVISTAR TEAM	08h 40′ 04”	+ 00′ 01”
15.	FRAPÉRAUD Jean-Christophe	81	AG2R LA MONDIALE	08h 40′ 04”	+ 00′ 01”
16.	FRACHAVANEL Sylvain	152	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP	08h 40′ 04”	+ 00′ 01”
17.	ITACUNEGO Damiano	141	LAMPRE – MERIDA	08h 40′ 04”	+ 00′ 01”
18.	GBRFROOME Christopher	1	SKY PROCYCLING	08h 40′ 04”	+ 00′ 01”
19.	CZEKREUZIGER Roman	94	TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF	08h 40′ 04”	+ 00′ 01”
20.	DENFUGLSANG Jakob	63	ASTANA PRO TEAM	08h 40′ 04”	+ 00′ 01”
21.	RUSVORGANOV Eduard	109	KATUSHA TEAM	08h 40′ 04”	+ 00′ 01”

RIDERS WITH A GREATER THAN 17 Minute deficit to the leaders:\

140.	NZLHENDERSON Gregory	26	LOTTO-BELISOL	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
141.	NORKRISTOFF Alexander	103	KATUSHA TEAM	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
142.	GERKITTEL Marcel	197	TEAM ARGOS-SHIMANO	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
143.	NEDVAN POPPEL Danny	208	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
144.	ITATRENTIN Matteo	158	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
145.	BELBOECKMANS Kris	202	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
146.	FRADUMOULIN Samuel	84	AG2R LA MONDIALE	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
147.	ESPPEREZ MORENO Ruben	118	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
148.	BELROELANDTS Jurgen	27	LOTTO-BELISOL	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
149.	NEDVEELERS Tom	199	TEAM ARGOS-SHIMANO	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
150.	GERSIEBERG Marcel	28	LOTTO-BELISOL	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
151.	GERGESCHKE Simon	196	TEAM ARGOS-SHIMANO	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
152.	SVKVELITS Peter	159	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
153.	AUSCLARKE Simon	183	ORICA GREENEDGE	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
154.	FRASICARD Romain	119	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
155.	BLRSIUTSOU Kanstantsin	7	SKY PROCYCLING	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
156.	NEDDE KORT Koen	193	TEAM ARGOS-SHIMANO	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
157.	NEDTERPSTRA Niki	157	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
158.	AUSLANCASTER Brett Daniel	186	ORICA GREENEDGE	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
159.	ESPLOPEZ GARCIA David	5	SKY PROCYCLING	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
160.	GBRCAVENDISH Mark	151	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
161.	NEDWESTRA Lieuwe	209	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
162.	BLRKUCHYNSKI Aliaksandr	104	KATUSHA TEAM	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
163.	NEDCURVERS Roy	192	TEAM ARGOS-SHIMANO	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
164.	ESPNOVAL GONZALEZ Benjamin	95	TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
165.	BELDE GENDT Thomas	203	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
166.	NEDBOOM Lars	161	BELKIN PRO CYCLING	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
167.	AUSO’GRADY Stuart	188	ORICA GREENEDGE	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
168.	FRABOUHANNI Nacer	73	FDJ.FR	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
169.	FRAROY Jérémy	78	FDJ.FR	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
170.	NEDTIMMER Albert	198	TEAM ARGOS-SHIMANO	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
171.	GERFRÖHLINGER Johannes	195	TEAM ARGOS-SHIMANO	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
172.	ESPLOBATO DEL VALLE Juan José	115	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
173.	FRAGENE Yohann	55	TEAM EUROPCAR	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
174.	FRAREZA Kévin	57	TEAM EUROPCAR	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
175.	FRABONNET William	72	FDJ.FR	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
176.	AUSGOSS Matthew Harley	184	ORICA GREENEDGE	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
177.	LTUNAVARDAUSKAS Ramunas	177	GARMIN – SHARP	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
178.	NEDLEEZER Thomas	163	BELKIN PRO CYCLING	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
179.	AUSMEYER Cameron	187	ORICA GREENEDGE	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
180.	ITASABATINI Fabio	18	CANNONDALE	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
181.	NZLBAUER Jack	172	GARMIN – SHARP	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
182.	CANTUFT Svein	189	ORICA GREENEDGE	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
183.	FRAMINARD Sébastien	88	AG2R LA MONDIALE	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
184.	ESPERVITI Imanol	125	MOVISTAR TEAM	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
185.	ITAMALORI Adriano	146	LAMPRE – MERIDA	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
186.	KAZBAZAYEV Assan	62	ASTANA PRO TEAM	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
187.	BELWILLEMS Frederik	29	LOTTO-BELISOL	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
188.	NEDHOOGERLAND Johnny	205	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
189.	ITAFERRARI Roberto	145	LAMPRE – MERIDA	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
190.	FRAPINEAU Jérôme	155	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
191.	GBRSTANNARD Ian	8	SKY PROCYCLING	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
192.	GERMARTIN Tony	154	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
193.	BELSTEEGMANS Gert	156	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
194.	USAKING Edward	14	CANNONDALE	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
195.	BRAFISCHER Murilo Antoniobil	75	FDJ.FR	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
196.	KAZMURAVYEV Dmitriy	69	ASTANA PRO TEAM	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
197.	FRACOUSIN Jérome	53	TEAM EUROPCAR	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”
198.	GBRTHOMAS Geraint	9	SKY PROCYCLING	08h 57′ 38”	+ 17′ 35”