Tirreno-Adriatico 2014 Results 2nd stage: Young Matteo Pelucchi wins

Who from the star studded sprint line-up would take this eagerly awaited showdown? Kittel, Cavendish, Greipel? Surprise all round as 25-Year old Matteo Pelucchi thunders to the win with Greipel 3rd, Cav boxed in and Kittel flinging his bike to the tarmac 2 kilometres back. (Slideshow route/profile)

The escapees of the day go by the names Canola, Dowsett, Teklehaimanot, Malacarne and De La Cruz. The gap stretched to a maximum of 5 minutes. With 30 kilometres left to race, Alex Dowsett attacked his fellow escapees and left them behind as he looked to time trial alone to the finish. A gallant, if futile effort against a speeding peloton, he was caught with 7 kilometres remaining.

One man down. Marcel Kittel was hoping for a stage win but a late crash infuriated the big German who hurled his bike in anguish. He later apologised on Twitter for the incident.

Young Italian sprinter Matteo Peluccchi took a surprising but very impressive victory, beating Arnaud Demare and André Greipel on the line. Race leader Mark Cavendish was boxed in for the sprint but does keep the leader’s jersey.

Tirreno-Adriatico 2014 Results 2nd stage

1. Matteo Pelucchi (Italy)
2. Arnaud Demare (France) s.t.
3. André Greipel (Germany) s.t.
4. Sam Bennett (Ireland) s.t.
5. Peter Sagan (Slovenia) s.t.
6. Davide Appollonia (Italy) s.tl [2]
7. Filipo Fortin (Italy) s.tl [3]
8. Sacha Modolo (Italy) s.t.
9.Tony Hurel (France) s.t.
10.Kristian Sbaragli(Italy) s.t.

GC after 2nd stage

1. Mark Cavendish (UK)
2. Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) s.t.
3. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia) s.t.
4. Mark Renshaw (Australia) s.t.
5. Wout Poels (The Netherlands) s.t.
6. Alessandro Pettacchi (Italy) + 0.02
7. Tony Martin (Germany) + 0.03
8. Daryl Impey (South Africa) + 0.11
9. Svein Tuft (Canada) s.t.
10.Ivan Santamorito (Italy) s.t.