Tour of the Alps 2018 Stage 2: López takes Queen Stage and Sosa new leader

As soon as the second day of action the riders tackle the Tour of the Alps' Queen Stage. The final haul up to Alpe di Pampeago is 7.7 kilometres at 9.8% with the last 4 kilometres averaging a whooping 11%. Miguel Ángel López wins the stage with a final jump, while young Ivan Ramiro Sosa finishes in third to take the overall lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2nd stage 2018 Tour of the Alps

1. Miguel Ángel López (col)
2. Thibaut Pinot (fra) s.t.
3. Ivan Ramiro Sosa (col) s.t.
4. Chris Froome (gbr) + 0.04
5. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 0.07
6. Giulio Ciccone (ita) + 0.14
7. Jan Hirt (cze) + 0.20
8. Ben O’Connor (aus) + 0.27
9. Ben Hermans (bel) + 0.31
10. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.34

GC after the 2nd stage
1. Ivan Ramiro Sosa (col)
2. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 0.06
3. Miguel Ángel López (col) s.t.
4. Chris Froome (gbr) + 0.16
5. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 0.19
6. Giulio Ciccone (ita) + 0.26
7. Jan Hirt (cze) + 0.36
8. Ben Hermans (bel) + 0.43
9. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.50
10. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 1.17

11. George Bennett (nzl) + 1.21

Race report
It takes approximately 25 kilometres for the break to take shape. Quentin Jauregui, Stephen Rabitsh, Oscar Rodriguez, Marco Frapporti, Omer Goldstein and Jacopo Mosca race to a lead of almost 5 minutes. Rabitsh is the first rider over the Passo Redebus (cat1), Frapporti second.

Goldstein gets dropped before the base of the next KOM climb. The hill runs to Cavalese (cat2) and the KOM is crested in reverse order. As there is no KOM at the line Rabitsh is the leader in the mountain classification.

While heading for the final haul up the front group is down to three – Jauregui, Frapporti and Rabitsh. They tackle the Alpe di Pampeago almost 2 minutes ahead of the peloton. Jauregui heads out alone, but he is brought back on the steeper slopes.

With 2.5 kms to climb Hirt attacks and Zoidl jumps to his wheel. Leader Bilbao drops a little later. Bennett can’t follow the pace either, while the two leaders are reeled in.

Froome speeds up under the flamme rouge and Pozzovivo counter-attacks. But they can’t open a proper gap. Six men spint for the win and Miguel Ángel López turns out on top with a strong jump. Thibaut Pinot comes in second with Ivan Ramiro Sosa third.

The 20-year old Colombian now leads the overall thanks to time bonuses.

Read also: route 2nd stage 2018 Tour of the Alps.