Elia Viviani sprints to win Criterium du Dauphine stage two

Elia Viviani (Cannondale) won the bunch sprint at the end of stage two of the 2013 Critérium du Dauphiné on Monday.

Viviani sped past Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) to take the victory, with Tony Gallopin (RadioShack-Leopard) claiming third.

Canadian David Veilleux (Europcar) maintains the overall race lead after taking a solo win on the opening stage on Sunday. Meersman is second at one minute and 56 seconds, with Gallopin moving up to third overall, one second further back.

British hope Chris Froome (Sky) once again stayed near the front of the peloton to keep out of trouble, and is seventh overall at the same time as Gallopin. Geraint Thomas (Sky) is now 10th overall, also at the same time.

Hilly day

Three riders escaped after 20km of racing: Thomas Damuseau (Argos-Shimano), Rudy Molard (Cofidis) and Arnaud Gérard (Bretagne-Seche Environnement). They were later joined by José Mendes (NetApp-Endura) after he bridged across from the peloton to form a quartet.

Damuseau had been in the escape group during the previous day's stage, and was aiming to vacuum up as many mountains points as he could. Stage two featured six categorised climbs, offering plenty of opportunity for the Argos man to amass KoM points and put himself into the mountains jersey.

Omega Pharma-QuickStep led the peloton to hunt down the break, and the final rider - Molard - was mopped up before the day's last climb, Col du Sentier, with 20km to go. Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) then chose his moment to attack before the summit and managed to get a gap. 

Cannondale and Sky joined Omega Pharma-QuickStep at the head of what was left of the peloton to catch Taaramae on the descent.

The pace was kept high into Oyonnax, and Cannondale kept Viviani out of trouble up near the front around a tight right-hand bend. Meersman opened up his sprint early, closely followed by Viviani, who accelerated past the Belgian in the final 100 metres to take a convincing victory.

Some struggled with the day's up and down route, with Jelle Vandendert (Lotto-Belisol) withdrawing from the race and several riders getting distanced by the peloton, including Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Sharp), Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM), Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge) and Thor Hushovd (BMC Racing).

Tuesday's stage three offers up more of the same, with two third-category hills in the second half of the stage and a fast 10-kilometre descent to the line in Tarare.

Results

Critérium du Dauphiné 2013, stage two: Châtel to Oyonnax, 191km

1. Elia Viviani (Ita) Cannondale

2. Gianni Meersman (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep

3. Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack-Leopard

4. Jacques Janse van Rensburg (RSA) Argos-Shimano

5. Anthony Geslin (Fra) FDJ

6. Armindo Fonseca (Fra) Bretagne-Seche Environnement

7. Bram Tankink (Ned) Blanco

8. Warren Barguil (Fra) Argos-Shimano

9. Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Vacansoleil-DCM

10. Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge all same time

Other

11. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky

17. Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Sky

23. Chris Froome (GBr) Sky all same time

104. Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky at 3-38

Overall classification after stage two

1. David Veilleux (Can) Europcar in 7-56-50

2. Gianni Meersman (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at 1-56

3. Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack-Leopard at 1-57

4. Warren Barguil (Fra) Argos-Shimano at 1-57

5. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar at 1-57

6. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana at 1-57

7. Chris Froome (GBr) Sky at 1-57

8. Richie Porte (Aus) Sky at 1-57

9. Angel Madrazo (Spa) Movistar at 1-57

10. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky at 1-57

Other

17. Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Sky at 1-57

129. Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky at 17-38

Chris Froome

Escape group

Elia Viviani takes the sprint win

David Veilleux maintains the overall lead

Related links

Photo gallery: Criterium du Dauphine stage two

Veilleux wins opening stage of 2013 Dauphine

Photo gallery: Criterium du Dauphine stage one

Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Who will win?

Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Preview and coverage index

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