Nibali in yellow after second stage, Gerrans fails to fire following Day One crash

THE effects of day one’s crash proved too much for Simon Gerrans whose dream of capturing the yellow jersey ended 25kms from the finish line.

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THE effects of day one’s Tour de France crash proved too much for Australian Simon Gerrans whose dream of capturing the yellow jersey ended 25kms from the finish line.

Australian team Orica GreenEDGE had targeted Stage 2 from York to Sheffield as the one where Gerrans could snatch the coveted jersey and potentially hold it until the riders reached the Alps next week.

The spectacular spill on Saturday, when local hero Mark Cavendish cut across Gerrans and lost control of his front wheel, sending them both crashing to the Harrogate roadway 200m from the finish, put paid to that.

(From L, Up to bottom) Germany's Marcel Kittel (C) wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey crossing the finish line; France's Blel Kadri riding in a breakaway; Fans on a rock along the road; and Italy's Vincenzo Nibali celebrating his yellow jersey.

The stage was won by last year’s Giro d’Italia winner Vincenzo Nibali, riding for Astana Pro, after pulling away from a pack of 30 with just under two kilometres to go. He was followed home by Belgium’s Greg van Avermaet (BMC) and Pole Michal Kwiatkowski from Omega Pharma Quick Step.

Australian Richie Porte, number two rider for Team Sky, who like Gerrans needed to change bikes after a minor fall, recovered to finish 21st, two spots behind teammate and Tour favourite Chris Froome. Spain’s Alberto Contador, who many believe is the man to beat, was 13th.

Spectators cheers as the pack passes during the second stage.

The victory gave Nibali both his first Tour stage win and yellow jersey, and sent a message that he could contend to take it home from Paris in three weeks.

A six-man breakaway bunch tried its chances early, but got swallowed up by the pack with some 20 miles left. Then, the big race stars moved to the front, splitting the pack.

Contador, Froome, and Americans Andrew Talansky and Tejay van Garderen all spent time at the front. At times, they mustered bursts of speed or zipped across with width of the road in tactical manoeuvres.

“In the finale, a lot of contenders were making moves: Nibali ended up taking two seconds on us,” Froome said. “It’s not a big margin. For me, it was about staying out of trouble to stay at the front, and avoiding any major issues or splits.

“I’m tired, but I hope everyone’s tired after a day like today.”

Stage winner and new overall leader Italy's Vincenzo Nibali, centre (above the clenched fist) with Simon Gerrans right behind struggle to find room through the crowds.

The course Sunday resembled that of historic one-day races known as “classics,” which often feature hilly terrain.

Michael Rodgers, an Australian on Contador’s Tinkoff-Saxo Bank team, called it “a bit of a special stage, like the Amstel Gold Race, but with 20 times the people.”

New roads for cycling’s greatest race also mean new audiences, some of whom are so enthusiastic and eager for a selfie with the pack that they might not realise the hazards of getting too close to the riders as they go by. “There are thousands and thousands of people. It’s great but it’s also dangerous,” Contador said.

Cyril Lemoine of France and Cofidis, Solutions Credits studiously ignores a fan after claiming the points on the Cote de Blubberhouses.

While Cavendish was ruled out of the rest of the Tour with a dislocated shoulder after Saturday’s crash, Gerrans was stiff and sore when he lined up for the 201km ride to Sheffield.

“I knew it was going to hurt for the first couple of hours,” he said after finishing in 60th place. “In the middle stages I started to feel ok and hopeful for the final but then towards the end when we were really punching up those steep climbs I realised I didn’t have the strength to go on with it.

“It was just the effects of yesterday’s crash. I’ve got bruised ribs and a sore back. With about 25km to go I realised I just didn’t have any power. I tried to get to the front to position (teammate Michael) Albasini a couple of times but then it was just a case of hanging on and trying to get to the finish.”

Spectators line the road as the pack climbs Blubberhouses pass.

Albasini finished in sixth spot which buoyed the team’s confidence for a number of opportunities between Stages 7 and 12 which they believe suit him and a hopefully recovered Gerrans.

Cavendish called Gerrans on Saturday night to apologise for taking bringing him down at Harrogate. Asked if that lessened his pain in any way Gerrans answered quickly, “No because I’m going to be stinging for a couple more days.

Chris Froome (L) of Great Britain and Team Sky leads the race as he attacks on the final climb and claims the points at the top of the Cote de Jenkins Road.

“I’m in a lot of pain getting through the stages. I guess at the end of the day it was nice he acknowledged that it was his fault but it doesn’t take any of the pain away from what could have been a nice couple of opportunities for me.”

The final stage of the English-based Grand Depart will be Monday’s 155km sprint from Cambridge, finishing in The Mall, London.

Results from Stage 2 of Tour de France, a 201-km ride from York to Sheffield.

STAGE

1. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/AST) 5hr8min36sec

2. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/BMC) 2

3. Michal Kwiatkowski (POL/OPQ) same time

4. Peter Sagan (SVK/CAN) s.t.

5. Tony Gallopin (FRA/LTB) s.t.

6. Michael Albasini (SUI/OGE) s.t.

7. Andrew Talansky (USA/GRS) s.t.

8. Bauke Mollema (NED/BEL) s.t.

9. Tejay van Garderen (USA/BMC) s.t.

10. Romain Bardet (FRA/ALM) s.t.

11. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL/LTB) s.t.

12. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN/AST) s.t.

13. Alberto Contador (ESP/TCS) s.t.

14. Rui Costa (POR/LAM) s.t.

15. Haimar Zubeldia (ESP/TFR) s.t.

16. Jean Christophe Peraud (FRA/ALM) s.t.

OVERALL STANDINGS

1. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/AST) 9hr52min43sec

2. Peter Sagan (SVK/CAN) 2

3. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/BMC) same time

4. Michael Albasini (SUI/OGE) s.t.

5. Chris Froome (ENG/SKY) s.t.

6. Bauke Mollema (NED/BEL) s.t.

7. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL/LTB) s.t.

8. Alberto Contador (ESP/TCS) s.t.

9. Tejay van Garderen (USA/BMC) s.t.

10. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN/AST) s.t.

CLASS STANDINGS POINTS

1. Peter Sagan (SVK/CAN) 69.

2. Bryan Coquard (FRA/EUC) 47.

3. Marcel Kittel (GER/GIA) 45.

4. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/BMC) 31.

5. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/AST) 30.

6. Ramunas Navardauskas (LTU/GRS) 30.

7. Michael Albasini (SUI/OGE) 27.

8. Alexander Kristoff (NOR/KAT) 25.

9. Michal Kwiatkowski (POL/OPQ) 22.

10. Michael Rogers (AUS/TCS) 22.

KING OF THE MOUNTAINS

1. Cyril Lemoine (FRA/COF) 6.

2. Blel Kadri (FRA/ALM) 5.

3. Jens Voigt (GER/TFR) 4.

4. Nicolas Edet (FRA/COF) 4.

5. Perrig Quemeneur (FRA/EUC) 2.

5. Pierre Rolland (FRA/EUC) 2.

5. Tom-Jelte Slagter (NED/GRS) 2.

8. David De la Cruz (ESP/TNE) 2.

8. Thomas Voeckler (FRA/EUC) 2.

10. Chris Froome (ENG/SKY) 1.

Originally published as Nibali in yellow after second stage, Gerrans fails to fire following Day One crash