Marcel Kittel wins Stage 2 Sprint as crash shakes up peloton at Tirreno-Adriatico

Marcel Kittel edged out world Champion Peter Sagan who lost most of his lead-out train in the hectic finale

As the first road stage of this year’s Tirreno-Adriatico, riders were eager to claim the first individual win after yesterday’s team time trial. A flat finale after a pan flat stage meant the fast men would have their eye on the victory, however a hectic street circuit finale saw a crash in the final 10km shake things up

Apart from a slight hump at the start of this 167km stage, the whole of the second day of the race would be pan flat. Heading south down the coast from the start town of Camaiore, where yesterday’s team time trial took place, the sparks would fly in the final 27km, where a street circuit ridden three times would up the pace for a predicted sprint finish. As is always the case though, fast finales make the racing more hazardous, and on street circuits there are always tight turns and road furniture that could change the day’s outcome in a matter of seconds.

With a parcours that promoted fast riding, the break went away the moment the race left the stage’s neutralised zone. A small group of four built up a sizeable advantage over the peloton, who at their peak held the bunch at more than seven minutes with 90km remaining.

Knowing the terrain wouldn’t trouble them in making the catch, the peloton increased their pace, and on reaching the street circuit in Follonica with 27km remaining, the break only had forty seconds in hand, finally being swallowed up with 12km to go.

As the pace quickened the nervousness in the bunch was palpable, and a crash with 7km to go split the peloton, taking with it Peter’s lead-out train. Managing to stay in the lead group, Peter was supported by Daniel Oss as the final few kilometres sped by.

Five men back in the last 100m, Peter Sagampushed hard in what was a very messy sprint, taking second on the line – hitting his top speed just a little too late to take the win.

VIDEO: 2018 Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 2 Highlights

2018 Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 2 Top 10

1 Marcel Kittel (Ger) Katusha-Alpecin 4:12:24 
2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe   
3 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek-Segafredo   
4 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky   
5 Patrick Bevin (NZl) BMC Racing Team   
6 Jakub Mareczko (Ita) Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia   
7 Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step Floors   
8 Danny van Poppel (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo   
9 Eduard Micheal Grosu (Rom) Nippo Vini Fantini   
10 Simone Consonni (Ita) UAE Team Emirates  

2018 Tirreno-Adriatico GC after Stage 2

1 Patrick Bevin (NZl) BMC Racing Team 4:34:43 
2 Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing Team   
3 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team   
4 Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing Team   
5 Daryl Impey (RSA) Mitchelton-Scott 0:00:04 
6 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky 0:00:09 
7 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky   
8 Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Team Sky   
9 Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky   
10 Jonathan Castroviejo (Spa) Team Sky