LottoNL-Jumbo’s George Bennett placed second in the second stage of the Tour of California in San José today behind Pole Rafal Majka. Behind the breakaway of four, Robert Gesink took fifth.

"I did about 30 seconds full-gas,” said Bennett about his escape. “We all worked together well and we all knew we had the same ambitions."

Team LottoNL-Jumbo made the race hard on Mount Hamilton, the heaviest climb of the day. The team rode on the front and quickly broke the peloton into pieces.

"We decided already a week ago that today we were going to race hard," Bennett said. "We've got a really young team, a really motivated team. It’s disappointing not to finish off all their hard work with a win.”

Just before the Hamilton Summit, with another 50 kilometres to go, Bennett attacked and was joined by Majka, Ian Boswell and Lachlan Morton with him. They worked well together and on the final climb, it was man was against man. After several attacks, Majka and Bennett sprinted for the win. Majka won with a small difference and also took the overall lead. Bennett took the jersey for most combative rider.

Gesink finished 37 seconds behind of the four leaders, pleased with the strong team.

"We gave everything and then George attacked,” Gesink said. “I think the four best riders got away on Mount Hamilton. It's a pity that George didn’t win, but it allowed me to wait for the sprint and to keep calm. I feel very good, but George is in top form. That's a good sign for the coming days. Today, we did very well and I hope we can repeat that in the coming days. "

‘Plan comes together’

"It is beautiful that the plan comes together," said Sports Director Grischa Niermann. "We did what we planned and took hold of the race. It's a pity that it's not rewarded with a victory.

“George was always convinced he would stay away and was really concentrated on the victory, so he’s disappointed he didn’t pull it off. Regardless, he did well and moved up in the GC to second. We are very pleased with that."