The expected wind and rain wreaked havoc in the peloton in stage two at the Tour de France but Trek Factory Racing’s Fabian Cancellara was all smiles after finishing third in the sprint from a decimated group to lay claim to a 29th day in the yellow jersey.
The first week in the Tour de France is always a stressful affair, but the added wind and wet roads in today’s flat stage that began in Utrecht and ended in Zélande saw a particularly nervous and jittery peloton, and when the hammer fell with some 60 kilometers still to race the peloton exploded into groups.
“I had cramps at the end, it was so fast and nervous, but finally some luck,” smiled Cancellara. “I had so much problems out of the corners, out of the roundabouts, the problem was from yesterday, I paid a lot – I mean everyone probably did – from yesterday’s effort.
“I am not sure what happened, if it was a crash or just a split because the guys from Lotto-Soudal went full gas. But we went through this small city and there were a lot of roundabouts and with the rain and wind…it was not easy and I was just there and suddenly the group split up. I hoped for sure at the end to get something out and now of course with the yellow I am really happy.”
Mark Cavendish (Etixx-Quick Step) led out the sprint while Fabian Cancellara patiently waited in Peter Sagan’s (Tinkoff-Saxo) wheel. It played out perfectly for Cancellara as Cavendish faded in the final meters and Cancellara was able to come around to take third place – and the precious bonus seconds – behind winner Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) and Sagan respectively.
Cancellara: “I did not have it in my mind to beat anyone, just on the yellow [jersey]. I was just behind Peter [Sagan] and I was waiting and waiting, and then all of a sudden they were going! But it was so long to the finish still! I just tried to get as close to the front as possible to maybe have a gap with Tony [Martin].
“Honestly I was not expecting the yellow today, maybe in the next days, and the big chance on the cobblestone stage. Today, I thought it was more for the sprinters. I was coming to the Tour to win and get the yellow yesterday, and I didn’t win yesterday and not today, but I made a nice sprint at the end and I got third and the yellow and that is really a success. It’s always special.”
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The second stage of the 102nd Tour de France really was spectacular, at the end André Greipel was the one who could triumph. The peloton left Utrecht this afternoon for a ride of 166 kilometres to Zealand. The finish was located on the artificial island Neeltje Jans. The rain and wind made the race hard.
Immediately after the official start four riders attacked, the rest of the peloton didn’t react and let them go. The four were Jan Barta, Stef Clement, Armindo Fonseca and Perrig Quéméneur. Etixx – QuickStep controlled the bunch, the escapees never got more than three minutes lead. With more than sixty kilometres to go echelons were formed a first time. Also in front the situation changed, Barta left the others behind. Later Clement and Fonseca would rejoin him. In the back the peloton came back together.
During the stage there were several crashes, also three Lotto Soudal riders hit the ground: Thomas De Gendt, Jens Debusschere and Adam Hansen. All three could continue. With about fifty kilometres to go a crash split the peloton in two. This was the decisive moment, Lotto Soudal raised the pace. Eventually a group of 25 riders would enter the finale together; Tony Gallopin, André Greipel and Marcel Sieberg were part of it! In the last kilometres Marcel and Tony made sure their teammate was in a good position to start the sprint. The Gorilla beat Peter Sagan. Fabian Cancellara, who was third, is the new owner of the yellow jersey. The green jersey will be worn by Greipel tomorrow. Today it was the tenth victory of the season for the German, the 25th of this year for Lotto Soudal!
André Greipel: “This was the first stage I could win, it’s magnificent that I did. This is a fantastic reward for the team and me. In the Tour everyone starts from zero, it are the results here that count. This determines if your season is successful or not. A victory at the Tour is at least as double important as anywhere else.”
“In our echelon were six riders of Etixx – QuickStep and strong riders like Cancellara and Dumoulin. We tried to stay a bit under the radar, but did our bit when the echelons were formed. The first time eight of us were part of the first group. The second time the selection was bigger and we were with three in a group of twenty-five. I considered Cavendish and Sagan to be my main opponents for the sprint. I’m happy I could stay ahead of them.”
“We had a plan before the start and did a recon last Wednesday. We were focused today, but not stressed. I finished it off, but this victory one is of the entire team. I win a Tour stage for the fifth year in a row, but it’s the first time my wife is here so that makes it even more special. I’m wearing the green jersey for the first time in my career, that’s a nice extra. Tonight I will enjoy this victory and then we’ll see what happens the next days.”
