Fabio Jakobsen wins with a breather in the sprint, Ganna remains leader
The day after the Filippo Ganna victory on the inaugural time trial, the sprinters had the opportunity to explain themselves this Tuesday on the second stage of Tirreno-Adriatico. After 210 kilometers of a rather flat course, Fabio Jakobsen (Soudal Quick-Step) narrowly won in the sprint ahead of Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) at Follonica.
As in any stage promised to sprinters, five fugitives tried, in vain. Davide Bais, Mirco Maestri (Eolo-Kometa), Stefano Gandin, Alessandro Iachhi (Corratec) and Roland Thalmann (Tudor) escaped in the first kilometers. They will have counted up to 3.45 in advance at the front but after the ascent of the Castellina Marittima (12.3 km at 2.9%), Bais got up just like Gandin after the intermediate sprint. Three to 70 km from the finish, the breakaway passed under the minute before being caught twenty kilometers from the line.Without plains exposed to the wind, this second stage promised a massive sprint between the tough guys.
Gaviria throws 300 meters but runs out of steam
Launched at high speed in a long straight line, Fernando Gaviria triggered the first in the 300 meters. The Movistar rider, third on the stage, was overtaken by Fabio Jakobsen, who won his second success of the season after his victory in the Tour de San Juan in Argentina at the end of January. The European champion finally blew Jasper Philipsen over the line. Overall, Filippo Ganna largely retains his leader’s jersey after his strong performance on Monday. Lennard Kamna remains at 28 seconds.
A new long stage will loom ahead of the riders of the 58th Tirreno – Adriatico on Wednesday (216 km) with the Passo del Lume Spento (12.5 km at 4.2%) and La Foce (5.3 km at 4.5%) in the first part. Much less hilly, the second half should allow a sprinter to raise their arms over the line.
