Cycling: Alexander Kristoff won the second stage of the Deutschland Tour. The Norwegian was the fastest man in the sprint out of a depleted peloton. Before that, there were several attacks, so that the main field gradually became smaller. The EF Education – EasyPost team is rewarded with the red jersey of the overall leader: Alberto Bettiol was third in the stage and just a few minutes earlier secured crucial bonus seconds.
Kristoff WINS ahead of Senechal and Bettiol
The second stage of the Deutschland Tour 2022 led the pros over 200,7 kilometers from Meiningen to Marburg, making it the longest section of this tour. As expected, there shouldn't be a mass sprint at the finish, because the last 40 kilometers or so were tackled extremely offensively by some teams. So today was more like a classic - as we know it from the newly founded Germany Tour. And just like there one alexander kristoff (Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux) like. The Norwegian was the last really strong sprinter left in the peloton. Florian Senechal (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) and Alberto Bettiol (EF Education – EasyPost) finally had almost no chance. Max Kanter (Movistar) was a good fifth.
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EF Education - EasyPost takes the competition by surprise
Like yesterday, the German Continental teams presented themselves in excellent condition today. Next to the French Quentin Jauregui (B&B Hotels – KTM) we got the South African in the break of the day Byron Munton (Dauner | Akkon), the Belgian Abraham Stockman (Saris Rouvy – Sauerland) and the Germans Jan Hugger (Lotto - Kern-Haus) to see. However, they did not have a realistic chance of a successful escape, as further attacks followed in the peloton around 40 kilometers from the finish. When the road led up to the small town of Amöneburg in Hesse, the EF Education – EasyPost team pushed through a hefty increase in speed. As a result, the main field was torn into several parts and the pure sprinters were largely distanced. Bora - hansgrohe had to close the gap that had opened up because they didn't have a single driver with them at the front.
Many attacks in the final
But even after the merger of the two groups, there was no peace on the second stage of the Deutschland Tour. The hilly finale caused numerous other attacks. Even before the Hasenkopf climb near Marburg, a group of five men broke away Nils Politt (Bora – hansgrohe) and Yuri Hollman (Movistar). But even the German champion and his companions did not get away decisively. Then forced Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers) picked up the pace up to the mountains classification, leading to another selection. However, his British team was not there when a new escape group formed just a few kilometers later Patrick Conrad (Bora – hansgrohe) formed. But the EF Education – EasyPost team was again not satisfied with this constellation and, with the help of several people in the tracking work, made sure that it was caught again.
Bardet secures bonus seconds
A bonus sprint took place in Neuhöfe just 4,6 kilometers from the finish line. Romain Bardet (DSM) secured three seconds ahead Alberto Bettiol (EF Education - EasyPost). Then tried within the last two kilometers Tony gallopin (Trek – Segafredo) as a soloist. But now the team has changed alexander kristoff (Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux) at the head of the field and finally piloted his Norwegian captain to the sprint success in Marburg.
Alexander Kristoff is lucky in the tour of Germany pic.twitter.com/3BTx8DMR8y
— el show de tadeo ⚡ (@joss__ok) August 26, 2022