Highlights from Stage 2 of the 2016 Tour de France and Giro Rosa

Peter Sagan triumphant in Cherbourg while Evelyn Stevens takes the win in Montenars

Philippe Tremblay July 3, 2016

Tour de France

An impressive performance by Stuyven, some nervous last kilometers and the end of the Sagan’s malediction! #TDF2016 https://t.co/bjgbefhtRL

— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) July 3, 2016

Stage 2 of the Tour de France was won in emphatic style by world champion Peter Sagan who after the stage said he didn’t even know he was sprinting for the win thinking there were still two riders up the road. Swapping his rainbow jersey for his career first yellow jersey, Sagan came around Alaphilippe who launched a powerful sprint early in the closing meters of Sunday’s 183-km stage. Alejandro crossed the line in third. Jasper Stuyven of Trek-Segrafedo was the last survivor from the day’s breakaway and made it to 500 m to go. A chase by Sagan’s teammate Romain Kreuziger decimated Stuyven’s gap that at one point was looking promising. Further behind Richie Porte (BMC) was trying to limit his losses after flatting with 4-km to go while Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) who suffered a hard crash yesterday was once again picking

Jasper Stuyven of Trek-Segrafedo was the last survivor from the day’s breakaway and made it to 500 m to go. A chase by Sagan’s teammate Romain Kreuziger decimated Stuyven’s gap that at one point was looking promising. Further behind Richie Porte (BMC) was trying to limit his losses after flatting with 4-km to go while Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) who suffered a hard crash yesterday was once again picking himself of the ground. Both Porte and Contador lost time to the race leaders.

Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile

Meaning while in Italy, the women’s peloton is contesting the nine stage Giro Rosa. Leah Kirchmann (Liv-Plantur) wore the race’s first pink jersey by celebrating Canada day with a win in the races 2-km prologue. Stage 1 was won by Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle High5) in a reduced bunch sprint while WorldTour leader Megan Guarnier (Boels-Dolmans) took the race leader’s pink jersey.

Stage 2 brought the peloton 111-km from Tarcento to Montenars and Elevyn Stevens (Boels-Dolmans) took the victory in the races first uphill finish ahead of Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5) and Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Rabobank-Liv). Kirchmann finished the stage in eighth place and moved to ninth in the overall standings. Stevens effort put her in the race and mountains classification lead after making the day’s decisive breakaway and putting in a late attack to take the victory. Stevens how leads the race by 2-seconds over Niewiadoma and she’s up 18s on teammate and American champion Megan Guarnier.