Critérium du Dauphiné 2018 Stage 2: Sprint victory Ackermann, Impey new leader

Stage 2 of the Critérium du Dauphiné is a hilly race with the last 30 kilometres almost entirely on descent. Pascal Ackermann sprints to victory ahead of Edvald Boasson Hagen and Daryl Impey. The South-African is the new overall leader thanks to a time bonus of 4 seconds. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2nd stage Critérium du Dauphiné 2018

1. Pascal Ackermann (ger)
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (nor) s.t.
3. Daryl Impey (rsa) s.t.
4. Oliver Naesen (bel) s.t.
5. Jens Keukeleire (bel) s.t.
6. Julien Simon (fra) s.t.
7. Dion Smith (nzl) s.t.
8. Patrick Bevin (nzl) s.t.
9. Tom Skujins (lat) s.t.
10. Romain Hardy (fra) s.t.

GC after the 2nd stage
1. Daryl Impey (rsa)
2. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) + 0.02
3. Gianni Moscon (ita) + 0.05
4. Bob Jungels (lux) + 0.09
5. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) + 0.10
6. Jens Keukeleire (bel) + 0.11
7. Jonathan Castroviejo (spa) s.t.
8. Brent Bookwalter (usa) + 0.13
9. Edvald Boasson Hagen (nor) + 0.14
10. Damiano Caruso (ita) + 0.17

15. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 0.18
17. Marc Soler (spa) + 0.20
19. Adam Yates (gbr) + 0.21
20. Geraint Thomas (gbr) s.t.
22. Romain Bardet (fra) + 0.23
26. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 0.24
30. Pierre Latour (fra) + 0.26
35. Daniel Martin (irl) + 0.29
53. Warren Barguil (fra) + 0.49

Race report
Once the flag is dropped Stalnov, Duchesne, Périchon and Backaert go clear. They race to a lead of more than 6 minutes before the peloton takes them on a leash.

On the last climb, Col du Fût d’Avenas, Backaert is back in the peloton, while the pack is 1 minute behind the other three. Tolhoek and Herrada go after the leaders and a lot of sprinters – for instance Coquard – are dropped.

Tolhoek and Herrada are almost brought back when Guillaume Martin bridges across. Tolhoek stops his efforts and Moscon takes his place, but the three are gobbled up.

Stalnov heads out alone with 10 kms to go. He widens the gap before he is caught with 900 metres to go. In the ensuing sprint Pascal Ackermann outpowers Edvald Boasson Hagen and Daryl Impey. Thanks to a time bonus of 4 seconds the South-African is the new overall leader. Kwiatkowski – who crashed 1.5 kilometres before the line – is second at 2 seconds with Gianni Moscon 3 more seconds back.