The second stage of the Tour Down has finished in a bunch sprint with a reduced peloton. The last few hundred metres went uphill, so Robert Gesink also gave it a try. He started his sprint early, but the sprinters passed him. In the end, he finished twentieth. 

“The stage was pretty tough and it was a first, small test. It’s really hot over here, but I feel good”, Gesink said after the race. As planned, Battaglin was his lead-out. “Unfortunately, we started a little too early. The twentieth place isn’t spectacular, but this way of cycling gives me confidence for the upcoming days. The temperature will rise, so we will see what that will bring.”

George Bennett passed the finish line in the same group as 33rd. Both Team LottoNL-Jumbo cyclists keep their chances high on a good general classification. 

Bennett takes it day by day. “I will see how I go with the General Classification. Right now, I really don’t know how good I am, but I want to try something the upcoming days. I’m pretty relaxed about it all.”