Wet roads see the end of American’s chances as Frenchman solos to victory
Anthony Delaplace (France A) won the second stage of the Tour de l’Avenir between Saint-Amand-Montrond and Cusset after surviving from the day’s long breakaway. Escape partner Nert Jan Lindemann (Netherlands) managed to hold on to take second, 5 seconds behind the Frenchman, with Delaplace’s teammate Romain Hardy leading the peloton home after 8 seconds.
“I hadn’t planned to attack from so far out,” said Delaplace after his victory. “I just followed the Dutch guy [Lindemann]. I thought that we would be of strong. After [Ricky] Jorgensen’s crash, we gave everything. But when we got to the top of the last climb we had no more than 30 seconds in advance and I thought we was finished.
“Lindeman wanted to work together more and I tried to attack several times,” he continued. “I didn’t want to wait for the sprint and so I attacked 500 metres from the line to go alone.
“To win a stage on the tour de l’Avenir was my goal,” he added, “because I am not one of the best in the mountains.”
The 150.5km stage began under heavy rain and Delaplace escaped with Lindemann and Ricky Jorgensen (Denmark) after just 10km. As they crossed the top of the 4th category Côte de la Croix de Chêne after 55.5km they led the peloton by 2’40”.
The US team of race leader Taylor Phinney then took control of the peloton and but the lead continued to build steadily. Unfortunately for the breakaway riders though, Jorgensen crashed on the descent of the Côte de Billy after 106km and the two others were forced to continue without him.
Over the top of the Côte des Arcarins after 123km the lead reached its maximum, at 3’15”, as the US and Australian teams began to increase the pace and bring the two riders back.
At the top of the final climb, the Côte des Corres, the gap had been reduced to just 43 seconds; it was on the descent though that disaster struck. On the wet twisting road a number of riders came down, including Phinney; the yellow jersey remounted but was struggling and was left behind by the peloton.
At 5km to go the two leaders had just 23 seconds, but they still held 13 at the flamme rouge indicating the final kilometre. With 500 metres to go Delaplace jumped and Lindemann was unable to follow him; Hardy won the bunch sprint for third.
Phinney came in alone, 19’10” behind Delaplace, losing his yellow jersey and any overall chance in the race; the lead goes to the American’s Trek-Livestrong teammate Alex Dowsett (Great Britain).
“It’s always great to be in yellow,” said Dowsett, “but I will have preferred not to take the yellow Jersey, because Taylor Phinney is a very good friend, and it troubles me to profit from his crash.”
Result stage 2
1. Anthony Delaplace (Fra) French National Team A
2. Bert Jan Lindemann (Ned) Netherlands National Team @ 5s
3. Romain Hardy (Fra) French National Team A @ 8s
4. John Degenkolb (Ger) German National Team
5. Vicente Garcia de Mateos (Spa) Spanish National Team
6. Pieter Serry (Bel) Belgian National Team
7. Jonathan Fumeaux (Swi) Swiss National Team
8. Sebastian Lander (Den) Danish National Team
9. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Polish National Team
10. Yoann Barbas (Fra) French National Team B
…
118. Taylor Phinney (USA) United States National Team @ 19’10”
Standings after stage 2
1. Alex Dowsett (GBr) Great Britain National Team
2. Michael Matthews (Aus) Australian National Team @ 1s
3. Anthony Delaplace (Fra) French National Team A @ 14s
4. John Degenkolb (Ger) German National Team @ 15s
5. Nelson Oliveira (Por) Portuguese National Team @ 21s