Milan (AFP)
Briton Simon Yates (BikeExchange) made a strong impression by taking the lead in the Tour of the Alps, after his solo victory on Tuesday in the 2nd stage between Innsbruck and Feichten-im-Kaunertal (Austria).
Yates, 28, pulled out of a group of breakaways to win the final ascent after the 121-kilometer race.
He was 41 seconds ahead of Russian Pavel Sivakov (INEOS-Grenadiers), winner of the last edition.
Irishman Dan Martin (Start-Up Nation) finished third at almost a minute.
Thanks to his demonstration, Yates has logically put on the leader's jersey to the detriment of the Italian Gianni Moscon (INEOS-Grenadiers), winner the day before.
The Briton has a 45-second lead in the general classification over Pavel Sivakov and just over a minute over Martin.
During this second day, a first group of breakaways was taken 27 km from the finish, before the ascent of Kaunergrat.
Colombian Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) took advantage of the junction to accelerate, taking with him in particular the French Romain Bardet (Team DSM), Pavel Sivakov and Simon Yates.
The Briton then went against.
Only Sivakov managed to keep pace with the 2018 Vuelta winner, before finally being let go.
Yates rushed to the final victory at the top of a hill.
"I like these stages. It's a victory from the start, rather than wasting time for 150 kilometers," said Yates.
"So far so good, but there are still a lot of very difficult stages ahead."
Romain Bardet took 9th place at 1 min 42 sec, while Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDF), who still suffers from his back, sank, finishing more than twelve minutes late.
Last week, the French rider conditioned his participation in the next Giro (May 8-30) to his expected sensations at the Tour des Alpes.
"The real answer will be racing," he said on Friday.
"I will only go to the Giro if I am 100%".
On Wednesday, the third stage, 162 km long, goes from Imst in Austria to Naturno in Italy.
© 2021 AFP