Peter Sagan wins record-breaking 12th Tour de Suisse stage
Peter Sagan beat Maximiliano Richeze and Michael Matthews to the line in Baar to take his record-breaking 12th stage win at the Tour de Suisse
Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) won stage two of the Tour de Suisse, while Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto-Soudal) usurped Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) as overall leader in the race.
Sagan got the better of Maximiliano Richeze (Etixx-Quick Step) and Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge) in a bunch sprint to record his record-breaking 12th stage win in the race.
The Slovak has an exceptional track record at the Tour de Suisse, this being the sixth successive edition that he has landed a stage win.
It had seemed that Cancellara had done enough to defend his overall lead when, at an intermediate sprint 12km from the finish, he got the better of Roelandts to claim the maximum three seconds on offer, with the Belgian claiming two.
But a small split in the bunch at the finish meant that Roelandts came in three seconds ahead of Cancellara, which was enough for the two to swap places from second to first in the GC.
Orica-GreenEdge rode at the front for most of the run-in to the finish in an attempt to set up Matthews, setting a searing pace that strung the peloton out in single file.
That meant that when Fernando Gaviria (Etixx-QuickStep), riding seventh in line, lost the wheel of his lead-out man Richeze in the final kilometre, a gap opened up with six riders - including Roelandts - going clear from the rest of the peloton to contest the sprint.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
It was a miserable day weather-wise, with rain falling throughout the day and causing a number of crashes.
One victim of the conditions was Robert Gesink (LottoNL-Jumbo), who, having gone into the race as a potential candidate for the GC, was forced to abandon following a crash.
Another was Andrew Talansky (Cannondale), although he was able to continue racing, and eventually managed to catch back up to the peloton within the final 10km.
The day’s break consisted of Sebastien Minard (Ag2r La Mondiale), Matthias Krizek (Roth), Antwan Tolhoek (Roompot Orange) and Marcel Wyss (IAM Cycling), but were caught with over 30km still to race.
Krizek and Tolhoek battled for the mountains points all day, with the former out-sprinting the latter on the final summit to the lead in that classification.
Result
Tour de Suisse 2016, stage two, Baar - Baar, 188km
1. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff, 4-35-19
2. Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Etixx - Quick-Step
3. Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
4. Magnus Cort Nielsen (Den) Orica-GreenEdge
5. Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Soudal
6. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo, all st
7. Danny Van Poppel (Ned) Team Sky, at 3s
8. Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Dimension Data
9. Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor) Team Katusha
10. Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Team LottoNl-Jumbo, all st
Overall standings after stage two
1. Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Soudal, 4-42-56
2. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek-Segafredo, at 1s
3. Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, at 6s
4. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff, at 10s
5. Martin Elmiger (Swi) IAM Cycling, st
6. Ion Izagirre (Esp) Movistar, st
7. Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, at 11s
8. Johan Le Bon (Fra) FDJ, at 13s
9. Silvan Dilier (Swi) BMC, st
10. Gorka Izagirre (Esp) Movistar, at 14s
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stephen Puddicombe is a freelance journalist for Cycling Weekly, who regularly contributes to our World Tour racing coverage with race reports, news stories, interviews and features. Outside of cycling, he also enjoys writing about film and TV - but you won't find much of that content embedded into his CW articles.
-
Is aero important when riding gravel?
While seeking aerodynamic improvement is regarded as conventional wisdom on the road, should the same apply to gravel racing?
By Andy Turner Published
-
Stephen Roche: 'Hopefully I can personally hand Pogačar the keys to the 'Triple Crown of Cycling' club'
The Irishman, who achieved the feat in 1987, praises Slovenian's 'superhuman achievement'
By James Shrubsall Published
-
Peter Sagan finishes second in last ever professional race
Former three time road world champion was the runner up in the Slovakian national MTB championships on Sunday
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Demi Vollering wins third stage in four days at Tour de Suisse to win overall
Dutchwoman takes her fourth Women's WorldTour stage race in a row, proving her dominance
By Adam Becket Published
-
Neve Bradbury takes first pro victory in Canyon-Sram one-two on stage 3 of the Tour de Suisse
Australian breaks away with team-mate Kasia Niewiadoma, who happily gifts win in Champagne
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Adam Yates seals the overall victory at the Tour de Suisse as João Almeida wins the final stage time trial
The UAE Team Emirates teammates take their fourth consecutive one-two finish of the race on the final stage
By Joseph Lycett Published
-
Adam Yates wins stage 7 of the Tour de Suisse in another one-two finish with João Almeida
The UAE Team Emirates duo complete the three-peat with their third one-two finish in a row
By Joseph Lycett Published
-
João Almeida springs to Tour de Suisse stage six win as UAE Team Emirates dominate
On shortened day, Almeida wins as his teammate Adam Yates extends lead on other squads
By Adam Becket Published
-
Adam Yates wins Tour de Suisse stage five with virtuoso mountains performance
The Briton attacks to win solo, with team-mate Joāo Almeida coming in second
By James Shrubsall Published
-
'It's for Gino': Torstein Træen wins Tour de Suisse stage four as Adam Yates takes control of race
Norwegian rider takes maiden professional victory as he wins from the break
By Adam Becket Published