Our first road stage here in Japan is a short one at 126.5km and it's not particularly challenging either. The circuit course has small Cat 3 hills consistently.
The sprinters are the bookies favourites here and rightly so. It would take one hell of an effort from an opportunistic rider to win this with a late attack.
Early into this one and we have an established 6 man breakaway with a 2'39 gap over the Peloton. Some pretty good riders in here so the Peloton will want to mind the gap. Kaislavuo Watson Dowsett Leknessund Pellaud Hellemose
80km to go and the gap for the breakaway is 3'18. They've just come through the first of 2 KOM sprints and it was tightly contested! Pellaud ended up taking it ahead of Watson and Dowsett.
The first intermediate sprint was one by Kaislavuo but he can't make it 2/2 as Pellaud just edges out Watson.
The 2nd of the 2 KOM sprints on the day goes to Watson ahead of Dowsett. The BNZ man will wear the KOM jersey tomorrow.
30km remaining and the lead of the breakaway still 1'58. They appear to be holding well when going up the hill. It's Carrefour, Jura and HelloFresh sharing the work on the front.
Final sprint points of the day go to Kaislavuo ahead of Pellaud and Watson. 19km to go and the gap is under a minute.
10km to go and the breakaway are in sight but still 41 seconds ahead. This could be a little close, especially with one more ride up the hill still to go.
The catch is made by Novak with 4.5km to go. This could be an interesting sprint given the presence of a hill top 2.5km from the finish.
2.5km to go and Van Stayen has Novak and Kuboki in front of him. Behind him is Kump who has Weber and Ackermann on his wheel. Just to the right of Kump is Thiery who is leading Boudat forward.
Thiery went early and has brought Boudat for company. Kump reacted quickly to get the wheel. Van Stayen somewhat abandoned by Kuboki who is up the road.
Meanwhile the Peloton, with the absence of the teams doing the work today, has been split off and is 38 seconds behind the front sprinting group of 14.
500m and Kuboki still leads but Boudat has been released from his team mates wheel. Kump coming quickly on the left and Van Stayen coming late and from deep on the right.
Kuboki still leading with 200m to go but Kump is moving fast. Van Stayen moving even faster but he's not taking a very good line here.
AND THE LOCAL HERO TAKES IT! Kuboki was supposed to be the lead-out here but he was simply too strong in the end and takes the win here on Stage 2! Kump is the meat in the middle of the Carrefour sandwich as Van Stayen takes 3rd.
Boudat is 4th ahead of Ackermann and Luchshenko.
The one climber who benefits here is Novak.
Vichot leads home the rest 41 seconds back.
It may not be the rider they expected to have in the GC lead but Kuboki is our new race leader. This one is bound to go down well with the home fans!
Tour of Japan - Stage 2 Report 
