It was Michael Kolar’s chance to shine today – after teammate Erik Baška took fifth place in the opening stage of the Tour of Croatia, Michael crossed the line in Split in fourth position – narrowly missing a podium place. With Erik held up in a crash in the technical finish of the stage, Michael stepped up and finished strongly.
The second stage of the Tour of Croatia was even longer than the first. A 240km route – the longest of the race – stretched its way down the southern leg of the country, starting from the stunningly beautiful Plitvička Jezera national park, and making its way to Split, on the Adriatic coast. Compared to yesterday’s flat route, today’s saw a more undulating parcours, albeit with a flat finish that encouraged a bunch sprint.
While a break did manage to escape early on in the stage, the promise of a long downhill to the finish meant the peloton was untroubled until closer to the end of the stage, as Sport Director, Ivan Basso, explained. “Like yesterday a break went early but today we didn’t take control until around 40km to go, again focusing on the sprint for Erik Baška but in the end he was held up in the crash and Michael Kolar did a good job to switch focus and get up there for fourth.”
With two roundabouts and a 90 degree turn in the last kilometre of the stage, it was highly likely that even if the sprinters managed to get through the preceding 239km without incident, there was always the chance they would be involved in, or held up by, a crash close to the finish. After Michael sprinted when Erik was held up, and to hold his own against some of the biggest names of the peloton, Basso was impressed. “Michael was sprinting against big names so we’re really happy with him and the result he got. These are the sprints that will really build your confidence and bring you on as a rider. And if Erik was there then we would have had two in the final to play for.”
Continuing, Basso highlighted the team’s efforts. “So we are really happy again for how the team did, it was again perfect commitment from the guys. The only negative point was Baška being behind the crash at the end but he didn’t come down and we still had Michael there. All the other guys did a great job in helping them ahead of the finish.”
Stage 3 takes the race into more hilly terrain. Starting in Makarska, the route takes in some bigger climbs, warming the riders up for the climbs of stage 4. The 189.8km route is more suited to the all-rounders, and while the parcours flattens out towards the end, there’s every chance a breakaway can stick. Basso was pleased with the team’s performance so far, and was looking to build on this after another strong performance. “Tomorrow again we take it again as it comes. The parcours is obviously harder, a bit like Liège. We will talk with the riders and make a plan for the stage later. They are really racing and I like this commitment. Tomorrow is another day – we have a few cards to play and we’ll see how it plays out.”
Stage Result
1. Mark Cavendish (GBR) Dimension Data +05:32:56
2. Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) Trek-Segafredo +00:00:00
3. Mark Renshaw (AUS) Dimension Data +00:00:00
4. Michael Kolar (SVK) Tinkoff +00:00:00
5. Andrea Guardini (ITA) Astana Pro Team +00:00:00
55. Jay McCarthy (AUS) Tinkoff +00:00:00
58. Nikolay Trusov (RUS) Tinkoff +00:00:24
61. Jesper Hansen (DEN) Tinkoff +00:00:51
69. Erik Baška (SVK) Tinkoff +00:00:51
70. Juraj Sagan (SVK) Tinkoff +00:00:51
131. Sergio Paulinho (POR) Tinkoff +00:05:33
GC after stage 2
1. Mark Cavendish (GBR) Dimension Data 11:00:27
2. Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) Trek-Segafredo +00:00:00
3. Mark Renshaw (AUS) Dimension Data +00:00:10
4. Timothy Dupont (BEL) Verandas-Willems Cycling Team +00:00:12
5. Nicola Ruffoni (ITA) Bardiani-CSF +00:00:13
38. Michael Kolar (SVK) Tinkoff +00:00:16
52. Jay McCarthy (AUS) Tinkoff +00:00:16
57. Nikolay Trusov (RUS) Tinkoff +00:00:39
59. Erik Baška (SVK) Tinkoff +00:01:07
60. Jesper Hansen (DEN) Tinkoff +00:01:07
64. Juraj Sagan (SVK) Tinkoff +00:01:07
139. Sergio Paulinho (POR) Tinkoff +00:06:27
Michael Kolar took control to finish fourth in the bunch sprint. Photo by Bettini Photo
