Stage 2 and it’s the Queen Stage. The racing continues in Tirol, as 166.5 kilometers take the riders from Innsbruck to the top of Kitzbüheler Horn.
It’s with no doubts a stage for the climbers, and stage favourites are Suaza Iglinski Efimkin
132 riders line up knowing what awaits them later today. Kitzbüheler Horn is just brutal, with barely no sections that is not painted black on the graphic!
Four riders immediately attack as the stage start and they have a gap of 1’30 147 kilometers from the finishing line. The riders are Penasa Golas Lejman Devine
Lejman
is only 20 seconds behind race leader Schrangl
and takes six of them back on the first intermediate sprint with 139 kilometers to go, just edging Penasa
Their gap back to the peloton is now two minutes.
The four early escapers are joined by Salgueiro Pujats
10 kilometers later, giving us a breakaway consisting of six riders. They’ve extended the advantage back to the peloton to a healthy four minutes, and it keeps rising.
102 kilometers away from home and it’s time for the second intermediate sprint. Golas
nicks it just ahead of Lejman Penasa
The breakaway riders enjoy themselves up front as a third category climb follows quickly after the sprint. Devine
edges Pujats
for the six points on offer. With 96 kilometers left they lead the peloton by 6’40. That’s possibly the advantage they need starting to climb Kitzbüheler Horn considering the toughness of the mountain.
Only five kilometers later and another mountain sprint. This time it’s a fourth category climb and it’s a tight one! Penasa
makes the best move and gets the five mountain points. Devine Selgueiro
follow close.
Back in the bunch it’s Bouygues Telecom Jaguar-Eritel
in charge with 69 kilometers left. They’re controlling the breakaway well, only being 4’40 behind.
Golas
wins the final intermediate sprint comfortably 53 kilometers away from home. The peloton is closing in, the chasing bunch is 3’45 behind.
33 kilometers to go and a couple of riders are trying to accelerate away from the peloton! It’s Der Hoogerland
giving it a go as they’re 2’30 behind the breakaway.
That was all a waste of energy, as they’re quickly brought back by LukOil-Rostelekom
But that doesn’t stop Der
from trying as he launches again! This time he’s off on his own. He’s two minutes behind the six riders up front.
Hoogerland
doesn’t have many friends in the bunch it seems, as he goes after Der
27 kilometers away from home. The chasing peloton led by Hrinkow
is only 20 seconds behind the Serbian.
But no luck this time neither as Barguil
catches them both with 22 kilometers left. His captain Suaza
is the best climber in the race, question is if he’s in serious pain after yesterday’s crash. Though, it must be a good sign seeing his team mate chasing at the front.
But this is a surprise! Suaza
himself is at the front chasing the breakaway 15 kilometers from the line. It seems like the French team is all in for Levarlet’s
overall ambitions here.
Here we go! The breakaway makes a turn to the left 8.2 kilometers before the finishing line. It’s the Kitzbüheler Horn that waits. The six riders are only a minute in front of the peloton, meaning there won't be stage glory for them today.
It takes the peloton 1.000 meters of steep climbing to catch Golas Salgueiro Devine
Though, Lejman Pujats Penasa
are still 30 seconds ahead.
6.0 kilometers to go and still no attacks from the bunch. It’s Suaza
leading the big bunch consisting of 112 (!) riders at one of these incredibly steep turns as the graphic shows the road rises with 18 percent. As you can see they’re just behind the three riders from the early breakaway.
200 meters later and we see why Bouygues Telecom
has been at the front almost the whole day. Levarlet
attacks strong and thunders clear!
The Frenchman quickly catches Lejman
who is the only surrender from the breakaway now as the yellow jersey worn by Schrangl
feels the pressure and tries to join Levarlet
Schrangl
succeeds to catch the Frenchman, and he drags the whole bunch with him in the process. It only leads to more attacks as Morabito
initiates a big move 5.300 kilometers away from home. He’s followed by Iglinski Ardila Cano
who luckily isn’t affected by the spectator!
But all they can manage is to get to the front of the peloton as the riders go under the five kilometer to go banner. The attacks are coming from pretty much anyone though, as Zakarin Levarlet Ardila Cano Schrangl Der
have a go at it.
But as you might have guessed, they’re going nowhere! One of the favourites for the stage win Iglinski
really wants to force a selection here, as he attacks again 4.7 kilometers from the top of the climb. And this one is looking strong!
But no, Der Hesjedal Quintana Hoogerland Schrangl Roman Eibegger Vrecer
are all following him, and as the Kazakh sits down 4.2 kilometers from home he must admit he has only managed to stretch the peloton.
But hang on! Hoogerland
counterattacks and gets a gap with 3.400 meters to go.
He’s followed by Zakarin Schrangl Vrecer
The trio are 26 seconds ahead of the bunch where Iglinski
is trying to shut them all down.
Iglinski
proves his climbing abilities as he catches everyone except Hoogerland
who still finds himself 15 seconds ahead of the peloton now consisting of 26 riders.
With 3.100 meters to go Bibby Acevedo Scarponi Niemiec Schreurs
all find themselves gapped. Poor positioning starting the climb looks to cost Bibby, Scarponi and Niemiec dearly.
Didi is doing his best to cheer for Hoogerland
But only 2.1 kilometers from the line Iglinski
catches him with home hero and yellow jersey Schrangl
impressing everyone at the rear wheel of the Kazakh!
The front group is now down to 17 riders thanks to Iglinski’s
tough pace.
Der Kunshin Ivars Ortega
being some of the most recent to let go.
1.700 meters to go and another selection! Only 11 riders are able to stay in contention for the stage win. The riders are Eltink Iglinski Levarlet Hoogerland Schrangl Rohregger Roman Cataldo Ardila Cano Vrecer Suaza
Behind Bibby
is doing an incredible job as he’s now the 12th rider on the road. Judging by his strength on Kitzbüheler Horn you can definitely say bad positioning costed him the fight for a stage win. Now it’s all about limiting the losses for the Brit.
No attacks in the front group as everyone looked to save their legs for the sprint. 900 meters from the finishing line and the sprint opens up with Eltink Iglinski Hoogerland Rohregger
on the front.
700 meters to go and Iglinski
storms to the front as the road rises with 14.5 percent.
The Kazakh isn’t looking strong enough to gap anyone though, as Eltink Rohregger Cataldo Hoogerland Levarlet Suaza
haven’t given up on the stage win quite yet!
The final left corner comes 400 meters from the finishing line and it looks to be a race of three horses! Iglinski
still holds the lead, ahead of Eltink Rohregger
The road kicks up with a massive 18 percent the final 400 meters as Iglinski
gives it everything to defend the lead from Eltink!
And the Kazakh makes it! Iglinski
wins the Queen Stage here in Austria just ahead of Eltink
Rohregger
grabs third place ahead of Cataldo Suaza Levarlet Ardila Cano Roman Schrangl Hoogerland
Vrecer
wasn’t able to follow the ten others in the sprint, and he comes home about a minute behind stage winner Iglinski
Bibby
did a great climb after he was dropped as he comes home in 12th, leading home Efimkin Bjelkmark Kolesnikov Kunshin Hesjedal
Actually, Iglinski Eltink
are awarded with a gap of 11 seconds to the others in the front group, meaning they’re first and second overall, with Schrangl
now being third.
