Tour Down Under 2019: Bevin snatches 2nd stage to take GC lead

Stage 2 on the Tour Down Under is played out on flat to rolling terrain. A huge crash in the final kilometre thwarts the imminent bunch sprint and Patrick Bevin seizes the opportunity. The New Zealander powers to the win and leaders jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2nd stage 2019 Tour Down Under

1. Patrick Bevin (nzl)
2. Caleb Ewan (aus) s.t.
3. Peter Sagan (svk) s.t.
4. Danny van Poppel (nld) s.t.
5. Jasper Philipsen (bel) s.t.
6. Phil Bauhaus (ger) s.t.
7. Elia Viviani (ita) s.t.
8. Luis León Sánchez (spa) s.t.
9. Kiel Reijnen (usa) s.t.
10. Kristoffer Halvorsen (nor) s.t.

GC after stage 2
1. Patrick Bevin (nzl)
2. Elia Viviani + 0.05
3. Caleb Ewan + 0.09
4. Max Walscheid ((ger) s.t.
5. Artyom Zakharov (kaz) s.t.
6. Jason Lea (aus) + 0.10
7. Michael Storer (aus) s.t.
8. Peter Sagan (svk) + 0.11
9. Jakub Mareczko ((ita) s.t.
10. Jaime Castrillo (spa) + 0.12

Race report
Jason Lea, Jaime Castrillo and Artyom Zakharov attack early onto race to a lead of 3 minutes. When they are reeled in with still 50 kilometres remaining two other riders go clear. Manuele Boaro is ordered by his team though and Matthieu Ladagnous pushes on alone. The Frenchman fights a lost battle, although he manages to widen the gap to 2 minutes.

Ladagnous capitulates with 2 kilometres left and all is ready for a bunch sprint when a crash takes place inside the final kilometre. Luis León Sánchez responds with a late attack, while Patrick Bevin uses him as a marker to power to victory on the false flat to the line. Caleb Ewan jumps to his wheel, but that is all.

Bevin takes both stage win and ochre jersey.

Another interesting read: route stage 2 Tour Down Under 2019.