Route d'Occitanie (st. 2)

Controversial sprint line by Bouhanni (COF) against Spaniard takes both out of contention in Masseube, as Venturini (ALM) succeeds. Valverde away from troubles before Saturday's Queen stage.

Frenchman Clement Venturini (ALM) profited from chaos to win in Masseube, end of the 173km stage two in the 2018 Route d’Occitanie, where the Movistar Team fought hard and endlessly to take the day’s honours.

The efforts by Sepúlveda, Bico, Dayer Quintana and Pedrero to eventually chase down the seven-man early breakaway came unrewarded, as Carlos Barbero was boxed in against the barriers by Nacer Bouhanni (COF). Barbero had to give up in his sprinting effort and could only manage to finish in 3rd place.

The Movistar Team went otherwise safe through with Alejandro Valverde, who will get with no time lost to the key stage in the French event,  Saturday: 198km from Prat-Bonrepaux to the Cat-1 Monts d’Olmes ascent and over four Pyrenees climbs -Lers (Cat-1), Souloumbrie (Cat-2), Chioula (Cat-2) and Montségur (Cat-2)-.

Picture (c): Route d’Occitanie / Aubin Lipke