Zdenek Stybar attacks to win Tirreno-Adriatico stage two and take overall lead

Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-QuickStep) sprung a late attack in the hilly finale of 2016 Tirreno-Adriatico stage two to take the victory in Pomarance and put himself into the overall race lead.

The victory is a solid consolation prize for the Czech rider after he narrowly missed out on the win to Fabian Cancellara in Saturday's Strade Bianche – and once again confirms that he is in good shape ahead of the Classics.

Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) placed second, just ahead of Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data).

Stybar moves into the overall race lead, deposing overnight leader Daniel Oss (BMC), who slips to fifth. Overall positions second to fifth are occupied by BMC riders after their stage one team time trial victory: Greg Van Avermaet is in second at nine seconds, with Tejay van Garderen in third, also at nine seconds.

The day started with a six-rider break heading off early, comprising Giorgio Cecchinel (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec), Simone Andreetta (Bardiani-CSF), Cesare Benedetti (Bora-Argon18), Lluís Mas Bonet (Caja Rural), Nikolay Mihaylov (CCC Sprandi-Polkowice) and Federico Zurlo (Lampre-Merida).

The six were allowed plenty of room to work up an advantage, possibly helped by the presence of just one rider from a WorldTour team: Zurlo of Lampre-Merida. A gap of six minutes was the escape's maximum gap as BMC and Movistar controlled the pace of the peloton.

As the break hit the finishing circuit with 30km to go, the advantage was down to under two minutes. The race all came together with 10km to go, and Sky moved to the head of the peloton.

After a couple of fruitless attacks by other riders, Stybar powered away from the lead group and managed to maintain his momentum up and over the final climb and then down into the finish - just about keeping the rapidly approaching Sagan at bay.

Overall contenders Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) also kept themselves in the mix, finishing fifth and sixth.

The third day of the 2016 Tirreno-Adriatico should be a fast stage, starting in Castelnuovo Val di Cecina and finishing in Montalto di Castro.

Results

Tirreno-Adriatico 2016, stage two: Camaiore to Pomarance, 207km

1. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Etixx-QuickStep

2. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff at 1 sec

3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data

4. Simon Clarke (Aus) Cannondale

5. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar

6. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana

7. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing

8. Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto-Soudal

9. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky

10. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Etixx-QuickStep at same time

Overall classification after stage two

1. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Etixx-QuickStep

2. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing at 9 secs

3. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing at 9 secs

4. Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing at 9 secs

5. Daniel Oss (Ita) BMC Racing at 9 secs

6. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Etixx-QuickStep at 11 secs

7. Bob Jungels (Lux) Etixx-QuickStep at 11 secs

8. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff at 14 secs

9. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ at 18 secs

10. Sebastien Reichenbach (Swi) FDJ at 18 secs