The Giro, my favourite tour of the year is only 2 weeks....

[tombeej]

Added to the dynamics of tomorrows stage, consider that Kittel's fight for pink will be against his former teammates. 

 

It's all about Etixx-Quick Step vs Giant-Alpecin tomorrow.

 

It's going to be interesting to see what Giant-Alpecin's tactics will be to stop Kittel getting the bonus seconds he needs.

 

They don't have a sprinter so it will have to be either (1) organising a break that takes out all 3 intermediate sprint placings and/or (2) getting a break away over the last climb and then staying away to the finish.

 

They won't be able to do this on their own. Maybe time for some old fashioned cloak & dagger deal-making behind the scenes with other teams to help them.

 

Who says flat stages are boring? It's going to be a fascinating drag race tomorrow.

['Dale]

Good analysis there, tom'

 

Stage 2 from Arnhem to Nijmegen is very flat, with only a short climb after 155km awarding the only climber's points of the day and then the first climber's jersey of the race.

['Dale]

 

Just before the climb there are also two intermediate sprints with time bonuses up for grabs. It will be fascinating to see if the sprinters and especially Marcel Kittel, let a break sweep up the bonus seconds of they will fight for every second and a chance to take the pink jersey.

['Dale]

As expected, the UCI were again controlling bikes for mechanical doping at the start. Yesterday they checked a total of 574 bikes, including spare bikes. Nothing was found.

['Dale]

After just a few kilometres of racing we have an attack and the peloton seems to have let them go.

['Dale]

DiData just going from strength to strength

 

M

The attackers are Omar Fraile (Dimension Data), Giacomo Berlato (Nippo Vini Fantini), Maarten Tjallingii (LottoNL-Jumbo).

['Dale]

Race radio has confirmed that all 198 riders started today's stage, including Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo), who was ill before the start.

['Dale]

The trio already have a good gap, with the peloton letting them go. They lead by 2:30.

['Dale]

The riders will enjoy a high of 26C today, with wind not expected to be factor.

['Dale]

The trio on the attack are working smoothly together. They could spend all day out front.

['Dale]

We understand the break has extended its lead to a massive 6:50.

['Dale]

The Etixx-QuickStep team is also helping to lead the peloton. Marcel Kittel is arguably the favourite for today's expected sprint finish.

['Dale]

During the stage, time bonuses of 3,2,1 seconds are up for grabs at the two intermediate sprints. There are 10,6 and 4 seconds up for grabs at the finish.

A maximum possible 90 points are available for the points classification, not to mention 3 King of the Mountains points at the Cat 3 climb after 155km.

['Dale]

The break's lead is up to 7:25.

['Dale]

The sun is out but there is some wind. A gust has just blow over some barriers in the final kilometre.

['Dale]

The trio on the attack are still working smoothly together. They could stay away to take the time bonuses and one of them could take the first climber's jersey.