Tour of Oman 2015 Stage 2: Cancellara outpowers Valverde

In 195 kilometres stage 2 takes the riders from Al Hazm Castle to Al Bustan. The finale brings two small climbs while the finish is 5 kilometres after cresting the second one. Four escapees colour the race, but once the climbs loom it's up to the big names. Fabian Cancellara outpowers Alejandro Valverde on the line, while Peter Sagan finishes fifth. The Swiss is the new leader. Nibali disappoints with arriving in the second group at 46 seconds. (Slideshow route/profile)

Tour of Oman 2015: Results 2nd stage

1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi)
2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) s.t.
3. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) s.t.
4. Filippo Pozzato (Ita) s.t.
5. Peter Sagan (Svk) s.t.
6. Julían Arredondo (Col) s.t.
7. Rafal Majka (Pol) s.t.
8. Daniel Moreno (Spa) s.t.
9. Andrei Grivko (Ukr) s.t.
10. Cameron Meyer (Aus) s.t.

GC after stage 2
1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi)
2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) + 0.04
3. Patrick Konrad (Aut) + 0.05
4. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) + 0.06
5. Peter Sagan (Svk) + 0.10
6. Damiano Caruso (Ita) s.t.
7. Andrei Grivko (Ukr) s.t.
8. Daniel Moreno (Spa) s.t.
9. Tejay van Garderen (USA) s.t.
10. Julían Arredondo (Col) s.t.

Race report
Gatis Smukulis is the first to successfully break away from the peloton. He is backed-up by Preben Van Hecke, Jef Van Meiraeghe and Enrico Barbin and the four of them race to a 5’25” gain after 25 km’s.

With 25 km’s done the gap stabilizes at 5 minutes.

After 35,5 km’s in the saddle the first intermediate sprint brings the following result: 1 Jef Van Meiraeghe, 2 Gatis Smukulis, 3 Enrico Barbin.

When Barbin punctures he is caught by the peloton, while the trio upfront head for a 8’10” gain. With 100 km’s to go Tinkoff is taking control in the pack. With Movistar offering a helping hand the gap is down to 5’15” in just 10 km’s.

The results at the second intermediate sprint: 1. Jef Van Meirhaeghe 2. Preben Van Hecke 3. Gatis Smukulis. The gap is 4’25” and there is 52 km’s left to race.

When the race is nearing in on the first climb the gap is 2’25” and when cresting the second climb the escapees are gone. It’s up to the big names in the finale and Cancellara makes a point he is not done winning yet. He outpowers the sprinting Valverde, Van Avermaet, Pozzato and Sagan, thus taking the overall lead.

Disappointing GC contenders: Vincenzo Nibali (+ 0.46), Rui Costa (+ 0.46), Joaquim Rodríguez (+ 0.55), Thibaut Pinot (+ 4.59).