Belgian Tim Merlie, from Alpecin Fenix, won the second stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico, played between Camaiore and Sovicille, the marathon day of this 57th edition, which kept Filippo Ganna (Ineos) in the ‘jersey ‘ leader blue.
Colombian Supermán López, from Astana, the great favorite of the beetles, entered with the pack and wasted no time on the 219-kilometre route. He is currently in 12th position overall, with a difference of 42 seconds.
Jhonatan Restrepo, from Drone Hopper Androni, entered 28th and was the best Colombian of the stage.
Overall, Rigoberto Urán is in 42nd place, Harold Tejada is in 63rd place, Einer Rubio is 156th, and Jonathan Cañaveral is in 166th place.
The longest stage
An attack by the Spaniard Marc Soler (UAE), 20 km from the finish line, was about to break the forecast of a massive arrival in Sociville, but the momentum of the platoon led by Filippo Ganna’s locomotive ended the illusions of the Catalan 2.8 km from the last line.
On the line, Tim Merlier (Wortegem-Petegem, 29 years old) raised his arms after a brutal acceleration in the last 80 meters that made the efforts of all his rivals useless. He beat the 20-year-old Dutchman Olav Kooij (Jumbo Visma) and the Australian Kaden Groves (BikeExchange) with a time of 5:25:23, with Peter Sagan, already in fourth place.
A long day, encouraged by a break that was diluted coinciding with Soler’s attack and that did not affect the order of the general. Filippo Ganna tidied up at the end so as not to lose the blue jersey, which allowed him to remain in command with 11 seconds over the Belgian Remco Evenepoel (Quick Step) and 17 over the great favorite and defending champion, the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar.
This Wednesday the third stage between Murlo and Terni, of 170 km, is disputed, a day full of ascents and descents until reaching the flat in the last 15 km.
SPORTS
*With Eph
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