The first road stage of the race takes the rider 184 kilometers through mostly flat lands. There are a few ramps here and there including the Cauberg, but nothing major. A total of 18 bonus seconds will be awarded at the intermediate sprints, but we’ll see if the peloton lets any riders go who would seriously benefit.
Rachid is the first attacker of the day. Boudat is attentive and immediately in his slipstream, Quintero is the first of a few riders who start their pursuit a few seconds later.
Sorensen makes it a group of four, with Nishizono and Wallays a couple hundred meters behind, trying to catch up. The peloton sits up and lets these riders go.
It took a while, but the two riders made it to the front to form a group of six where Kofala has the numerical advantage. At the first sprint, Boudat is first over the line ahead of Sorensen and Quintero. The Colombian is the best-placed rider in the GC, starting the stage in 39th overall, 1’09 (now 1’07) behind overall leader Durbridge.
We’re at the halfway point of the race and the peloton keeps the breakaway on a short leash. The gap never grew past three minutes and has been around two minutes for a while now. A number of teams are at the front of the pack, including Valio, UBS and Sauber with more than one rider.
Shortly after the second intemediate sprint (won again by Boudat ahead of Quintero and Sorensen), Nishizono loses contact with the rest of the group, possibly still suffering from the chase earlier in the stage.
We also have a few riders dropping from the back of the peloton, including 32nd overall Nascimento and 41st Henttala.
After a multiteam effort, the remaining five riders up front are caught even before the final intermediate sprint, opening that up to the top sprinters.
In what might be a precursor the the finale, Lo Cicero takes six points ahead of Salleh after good leadouts by Matthews and Page, respectively. Selig is third over the line, Silvestre misses out on points and bonus seconds in fourth place.
Inside the final 10 kilometers, three teams have taken charge of the peloton: Europcar, Sauber and Desigual. They underscore their ambitions for the sprint.
And it’s still those teams as we come closer to the finish. Europcar demostrate their prowess with Aberasturi at the very front of the pack and Lo Cicero in the center of the screen behind Matthews and Lay.
Those three trail Zabel, who has only Verona ahead and Manninen behind him.
On the left side, Salleh follows Page and Swiss champ Aregger. Selig, Wippert and Suryadi try to get into position to his right, Silvestre still has teammates by his side.
Matthews opens the sprint on the right hand side as Aberasturi possibly tries to block Aregger on the left. Selig found Lo Cicero’s wheel, Zabel looks to be in the wind very early in the middle of the road.
Things get weird as Matthews, Lay and Page jump to the front, but their leaders have lost them. Lo Cicero now leads a bunch of sprinters on the right hand side, Manninen and Zabel closest. Strangely in the mix is Olei, the national champ of San Marino, whose erratic riding has caused some of this mess. Two kilometers still to go.
Under the red kite, Page has established a small gap, as have Matthews and Lay. There’s still a ways to go, but Europcar could score big on sheer numbers here. Salleh is the first chaser now, Manninen and Silvestre behind him next to Lo Cicero.
It’s a sharp right turn onto the home stretch. Not much has changed, but Silvestre and Lo Cicero have to take the outside line. Let’s hope it doesn’t hurt them. Just outside of the picture, Wippert, Suryadi and Selig try to catch up as they establish a small gap to the rest of the peloton.
The trio at the front is now slowing down. Salleh moves between them, but the three riders behind him have more pace!
And indeed, it’s Manninen and Silvestre, whose speed is unmatched by anyone else! Who will take it?
Silvestre tries to overtake, but does he have enough road left? Behind them, Wippert is the fastest, he could still make up a few positions.
Matti Manninen wins stage 2 of the Olympia’s Tour!
And Wippert jumps onto the podium! Incredible finish by the Philips rider! Matthews finishes fourth, ultimately a disappointing result for Europcar. Their sprint train blew up and Lo Cicero didn’t have the legs to recover enough. He finishes 10th.
Zabel edges out Page - Sauber is another team that will leave frustrated today.
Selig found some speed in the final few hundred meters. He overtakes Salleh but finishes 8th just behind Lay. Suryadi is the final sprinter of this first group over the line in 11th place.
Olympia’s Tour 
