Skoda-Tour de Luxembourg 2014 (2.HC), 04.06 - 08.06

[Dazed and Confused]

Stage 2 starts 12:30 local.

This can be raced, but it can also be controlled to death ending in a little sprint uphill at the end.

I hope Cofidis comes out in full force and blows things apart.

 

[RedheadDane]

I just find it rather funny that the sprint was the German Champion in front of the Danish Champion (in front of the Yellow Jersey).

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Ticker: http://www.wort.lu/de/sport/skodato...etappe-im-liveticker-539195b7b9b3988708031c48

Just started.

 

[kreyszig]

Just in:
Trek Factory Racing team bus confiscated

 

[pugdog]

Actually, they're holding the bus hostage till Andy gets a win.

 

[VeloHuman]

Nice to see that Greipel is coming around from his unfortunate injury. Hopefully he's at full strength for the three-man showdown at the Tour.

 

[eric_vv]

Actually, they're holding the bus hostage till Andy gets a win.

 

[christopherrowe]

Nice to see that Greipel is coming around from his unfortunate injury. Hopefully he's at full strength for the three-man showdown at the Tour.

Indeed. And his win yesterday pulls him even with Alexander Kristoff at nine wins on the year, ahead of the Cavendish and Bouhanni (eight each), Demare (seven), and Kittel (six). Sagan has five. Of course, race and field quality must be taken into account.

 

[Christian]

Nice to see that Greipel is coming around from his unfortunate injury. Hopefully he's at full strength for the three-man showdown at the Tour.

On the ticker they said that Greipel was seen training even 45 minutes after the end of the stage, still riding around the area. They included a picture as well

 

[jens_attacks]

frank should win today easily. go frankie!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Could be Jelle....

Edit: Brecshel wins, Drucker 2nd.

 

[christopherrowe]

And Andy Schleck comes in 1:10 down.

 

[christopherrowe]

Hmmm. The ticker writer seems to think that Jempy Drucker should move into yellow now, but I didn't see any indication of where Danny van Poppel was in the bunch. I suppose Drucker might have picked up some bonus seconds for his second place, but he was eight back at the start.

 

[el_angliru]

Morkov 2nd yesterday, and now Matti 1st! Well done!

TST-riders fighting for a Tour spot

 

[Christian]

Man, Jempy... he really needs to get that first win sometime soon, it's getting ridiculous how many 2nd spots he has gotten! Congrats to Breschel, he won the final stage back in 2009 IIRC, another one of those riders who weren't really able to confirm the expectations, so it's always nice to see them get a win.

Drucker might be leader as he picked up intermediate bonus seconds too

 

[pastronef]

yeah! bravo Matti! nice comeback

 

[Christian]

Looks like Breschel dominated that sprint

 

[Wallenquist]

RusVelo and Stolting guy, who were they ? Maikin and Herkoltz ?

EDIT: Okay, it wasn't RusVelo guy but Morkov in his national champion jersey. Nice ride by Tinkoff Saxo!

 

[christopherrowe]

RusVelo and Stolting guy, who were they ? Maikin and Herkoltz ?

The Stolting guy is Herklotz, yes. Results are slow coming in for this. I've seen some places reporting Jempy Drucker came in third, not second, but second place seems to be a mystery so far. If it's a RusVelo rider I hope it's Solomennikov, my totally random pick of rider to root for in this race.

 

[christopherrowe]

RusVelo and Stolting guy, who were they ? Maikin and Herkoltz ?

EDIT: Okay, it wasn't RusVelo guy but Morkov in his national champion jersey. Nice ride by Tinkoff Saxo!

Oh well. But yes, Morkov is going well.

 

[ILovecycling]

Congrats Matti!Long awaited victory,great form timing
Saxo will be hot at Tour.

 

[Christian]

Morkov finished 5th and is now sitting in 2nd overall according to Tinkoff website.

http://www.tinkoffsaxo.com/news/matti-breschel-wins-stage-2-tour-de-luxembourg/

 

[christopherrowe]

Hey, maybe there was a RusVelo rider up there after all. There are .pdfs on the race's website with today's results and the new GC.

Today: Breschel (Tinkoff - Saxo), Sergey Lagutin (RusVelo), Jempy Drucker (Wanty Group), Silvio Herklotz (Stolti), Romain Hardy (Cofidis), and then, it says here, Morkov in sixth, all on the same time. Morkov apparently picked up a 3 second bonus somewhere on course, too. After those six, there's a four second gap.

GC top five: Drucker, Morkov +5, Herklotz +14, Breschel +14, Lemoine +17.

 

[christopherrowe]

Schleck brothers on GC after today: Frank 15th at +35. Andy 47th at +1.34.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

GC top 10:
1 73 LUX19860903 DRUCKER, Jean-Pierre WGG WANTY GROUP 08.26.49 00.00.00
2 15 DEN19850430 MORKOV, Michael TCS TINKHOFF-SA 08.26.54 00.00.05
3 122 GER19940506 *HERKLOTZ, Silvio STG TEAM ST