Driedaagse De Panne - Koksijde (st. 2)
German completes 190km breakaway, shows good form after puncture during opening day in De Panne. Sanz takes 16th as Kristoff (KAT) dominates another bunch sprint
Movistar Team partially bounced back after sour taste left from their performance in the first stage of the Driedaagse De Panne – Koksijde as one of their most promising youngsters, Jasha Sütterlin, got to the front on day two, the longest one with a total 217 kilometers.
The Freiburg-based rider made part of a twelve-man group jumping away at the start of the stage and ammassing a seven-minute gap that was reduced by the wind and the zeal of the sprinters' teams. The escape rolled about in front of the peloton -with Jasha insisting and showing strength- before they were caught into the penultimate local lap in Koksijde, less than 20km from the end.
Fran Ventoso and Enrique Sanz -focused on getting in good position but eventually unsuccessful, crossing the line in 16th spot- completed the Blues' presence at the front. Alexander Kristoff (KAT) showed his dominance on sprinting duties again with a convincing second victory.
Thursday will bring action to an end by the Flemish coast with a double sector to be broadcast by Eurosport: a 111km road stage in the morning (9.30 / TV 10.30) followed by a 14km TT (TV 14.45h).