Stage 2 of the Tour of Beijing has been classified as hilly. With a tough climb in the middle it's visible why. Nevertheless, a long downhill/flat section should ensure most riders to hang on and be able to sprint. We shouldn't underestimate the escapees for today though.
The attacks start earlier than yesterday. Tjallingii (BEL) and Sprick (ARG) attack almost immediately after the start.
Together with Canuti (CAN) and De Ieso (BAR) they form a leading group of 4. Tjallingii wins the first intermediate sprint.
At the first summit of today Hansen (LTB) and Kurek (CCC) have also joined. The pack isn't too fond of it. Nevertheless, Canuti is able to reach the summit leading the break.
With 77km to go it's over though. Garmin and Katusha reel the 6 leaders in.
This means the second intermediate sprint can actually go to sprinters. Brookes beats Viviani and Hutarovich. Dehaes just comes short at 4th.
Afterwards we see some attacks again. Morajko (CCC) and Chaves (COL) are far behind in the GC, but Bardet (AG2R) and Poels (VCD) haven't lost time yet and aren't bad climbers at all!
At the steep slopes of the second climb Morajko is almost immediately left behind though.
One km from the summit we have more attacks. Huzarski (TNE) and Nieve (EUS) are there, but also... Rui Costa (MOV) has attacked! The Portuguese lost time yesterday and hopes to gain back something today. For now Morajko seems to be their first target. Further ahead Poels wins the mountain sprint.
Before the summit we have one more attack. It's Ivan Basso (CAN) who attacks. The Italian of Team Sagan has been very disappointing so far this season and hopes to make up for that now.
In the flat/downhill section between the climbs Basso and Morajko get company of group-Costa. They are a minute behind the 3 leaders and 40s ahead of the pack.
Garmin obviously doesn't like such a dangerous group and brings back the gap to 20s.
5km from the summit group-Costa has been reeled in. The three leaders already have 1'43.
The first major victim of today is Nowak (CCC), the 3rd in the GC. Not that anybody had high expectations or so though...
1.5km from the summit Costa and Nieve attack again!
At the summit itself it's Poels who wins again. He'll probably wear the mountains jersey tomorrow.
Costa and Nieve are not strong enough today and almost immediately after the summit they are reeled in by the pack, which still includes most sprinters.
One sprinter is caught behind though. Mark Renshaw (BEL) is 2nd in the GC at the start of the stage, but probably will drop quite far after today. Viviani, Dehaes, Breschel, Brookes and many others are dropped as well.
Garmin's workers are getting tired. Costa and Nieve spot this and attack again. This time Nerz (BMC) also follows them.
Garmin has found some fresh blood in Morton and the 3 latest escapees are caught 27km from the line. The 3 leaders still have 1m20 though.
At the final climb Nieve attacks for the 4th time today. Gesink and Costa try to follow. Katusha, with Caruso and Rodriguez, is fresh and Caruso therefore decides to help his Spanish leader.
At the final summit Chaves is first, but Poels holds on for his lead.
Behind Costa/Gesink we have new attacks, and it's serious this time. Dan Martin, Moser, Rodriguez, Uran, Evans and P. Velits attack.
20km to go and we have the following situation
Lead: Bardet, Poels, Chaves
+1'08: Costa, Nieve, Gesink
+1'52: Martin, Rodriguez, Uran, Moser, Evans, Velits
+2'16: Peloton with the other favourites
A massive group is dropped from the pack, where the pace is getting higher and higher. Mezgec, Bouhanni and Nizzolo are the main victims.
With 18km to go Rodriguez's group is caught by the pack, which is the sign for Martin to attack again. Rodriguez, Moser, Uran and Duarte follow, but the latter has to drop back.
With 12km to go group-Costa and group-Rodriguez merge, which leaves us with:
L: Poels, Bardet, Chaves
+1'08: Costa, Gesink, Nieve, Rodriguez, Uran, Martin, Moser
+1'40: Pack
With 10km to go the second group is caught by the pack, which then slows down.
With 5km to go the three leaders, who have coloured today's stage, have a whopping 1'43 lead. Not only will they fight for the stage, a battle for the leaders jersey between Bardet and Poels is also on. Spurred on by this the Dutchman speeds up.
With 3km to go he has distances his two fellow escapees, but Bardet is working hard to close the gap.
And he goes on! After reaching Poels he overtakes him with an incredible speed!
Poels has run out of energy and Chaves is unwilling to chase. Bardet reaches the red kite, probably with a victory he won't forget quickly!
At the line Bardet hangs on to a fantastic victory for him and AG2R!
Chaves passes an exhausting Poels and comes in second.
The sprint for 4th is for Uran, ahead of De Vries, Slagter and Evans.
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