Dylan Groenewegen made it two wins from two stages at the Tour of Slovenia with another blistering sprint finish, as Team Jayco AlUla again delivered an admirable team performance.
Similar to the previous day, an early break went and was closely controlled by the bunch, but was reeled back in sooner on stage two as the final climb approached.
As Lucas Hamilton marshalled the team into the last climb a mechanical failed to derail the team’s plan, as all the riders fulfilled their roles to perfection. The tempo was pushed on the climb as other teams tried to reduce the peloton and avoid the bunch sprint, but Groenewegen held his own.
The Dutchman was aided by his team-mates asserting their authority inside the final 15km as well, with recent Giro d’Italia stage winner Filippo Zana putting in a shift to bring the team’s sprint unit into the finish in great position.
Luka Mezgec again executed a flawless lead out, aided by Lukas Postlberger, with Groenewegen winning by half a wheel in another exciting finish.
Victory means the 29-year-old retains the overall race lead, extending his advantage at the top of the GC standings in the process.
Dylan Groenewegen:
“Over that last climb Bora decided to go full gas to make it a bit harder and make the bunch a bit smaller. Then in the final we went really well, we went at the right moment. Luka and me had a little bit of a misunderstanding, but he did a really great lead out again, together with Posti.
It was a hard sprint, a little bit uphill. It’s good preparation before the Tour, and we won again, so thanks again to the whole team. It was really impressive.”
Pieter Weening (Sport Director):
“Another win for Dylan and we did the same plan as yesterday – we took control from the start and everybody committed to it.
In the final all the guys did a great job of keeping Dylan in the main bunch, and also doing the lead out. It was a perfect day for us.”
Tour of Slovenia – Stage 2 result:
- Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla) 3:49:39
- Matteo Moschetti s/t
- Phil Bauhaus s/t
Tour of Slovenia – General Classification after Stage 2:
- Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla) 8:22:42
- Matteo Moschetti +0:10
- Phil Bauhaus +0:10
