Viviani sprints into race lead

04 Sep 2017

Viviani sprints into race lead

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Elia Viviani sprinted to victory on Tour of Britain stage two and took the race lead after Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) was relegated for deviating from his line in the decisive sprint.

A superb leadout train from Team Sky had left Viviani ideally placed heading into the final hundred metres, but Boasson Hagen initially looked to have pipped him to the post. 

However, the Norwegian was adjudged to have substantially deviated from his racing line in the sprint and he was relegated, placing Viviani atop the podium on the stage, but also earning him the green leader’s jersey.

Earlier on, Matt Holmes (Madison Genesis) initiated the breakaway as the flag dropped, which swelled to seven riders who stayed away for the majority of the stage, with Homes fittingly the last man caught by the chasing bunch with 14km to go.

Tao Geoghegan Hart had been instrumental in bringing the escapees back and looked to have set up a sprint finish, but Phillipe GIlbert (Quick-Step Floors) upset the sprinters by attacking with 8km remaining. 

Strong work on the front of the bunch from Geraint Thomas and Vasil Kiryienka denied the Belgian a canny counter-attack win to bring the peloton back together and set up a sprint finish.

Owain Doull perfectly led out Viviani, who looked set to continue his excellent form with another win only for Boasson Hagen to deny him on the line after     changing his line. 
Elia Viviani

Elia Viviani

All the team deserve this win and I hope to win again in the next few days too."
Afterwards, the Italian revealed that missing out on victory on stage one really pushed him to bounce back and win the following day.

He said: “I was feeling really good yesterday, but I was disappointed as the guys did a perfect job yesterday on a very technical finish and I finished only third.

“I really wanted to win today and we did a really good leadout with Kwiato, Kiry, G and Tao - who worked all day.

“Owain put me on Boasson Hagen’s wheel in the final which was perfect and what we talked about this morning in our meeting, to be in second or third place going into the sprint. 

“We have a really strong leadout, Tao is the youngest, but he is one of the best talents in British cycling and he has done two days on the front for me.
 
"All the team deserve this win and I hope to win again in the next few days too."
Viviani praised the workrate of Geoghegan Hart on stage two

Viviani praised the workrate of Geoghegan Hart on stage two