Tirreno-Adriatico 2015: Jens Debusschere outsprints Peter Sagan

Stage 2 in the Tirreno-Adriatico is for the sprinters after 153 kilometres between Camaiore and Cascina. A crash in the finale shakes up the routine and Jens Debusschere speeds to victory. (Slideshow route/profile)

Tirreno-Adriatico 2015: Results 2nd stage

1. Jens Debusschere (bel)
2. Peter Sagan (svk) s.t.
3. Sam Bennet (irl) s.t.
4. Alexander Porsev (rus) s.t.
5. Tyler Farrar (usa) s.t.
6. Magnus Cort (den) s.t.
7. Roger Klüge (ger) s.t.
8. Nicola Ruffoni (ita) s.t.
9. Zakkari Dempster (aus) s.t.
10. Mark Renshaw (aus) s.t.

GC after the 2nd stage
1. Adriano Malori (ita)
2. Peter Sagan (svk) s.t.
3. Fabian Cancellara (swi) + 0.01
4. Greg van Avermaet (bel) + 0.02
5. Matthias Brändle (aut) s.t.
6. Maciej Bodnar (pol) s.t.
7. Daniel Oss (ita) + 0.04
8. Ramunas Navardauskas (ltu) + 0.05
9. Stephen Cummings (gbr) + 0.06
10. Martijn Keizer (nld) + 0.07

21. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.10
23. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 0.11
37. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 0.13
47. Bauke Mollema (nld) + 0.15
61. Alberto Contador (spa) + 0.19
74. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.21

Race report
When the riders are off it takes a while for the battle to ignite. Then a break of seven takes shape – Konrad, Wyss, Quintero, Castiblanco, Keizer, Zardini and Salerno. They race to a comfortable gain.

Soon the Pitoro is crested, with Castiblanco grabbing most mountain points – Keizer is second, Konrad third. The first intermediate sprint is Keizer’s.

The gap balances at 6 minutes for quite a while, but when the pack decides time’s up the reeling in begins and with 12 kilometres left it is all back together again. Sprinters squads Etixx and MTN take control of the pack while storming to the finish line in Cascina.

A crash in the final kilometre doesn’t distract Jens Debusschere and the Belgian champions sprints to victory, besting Peter Sagan in doing so.