Marcel Kittel wins second stage of Tour du Nord-pas-de-Calais 2011 – Cycling news
Marcel Kittel of the Skil-Shimano team won the second stage of the Tour du Nord-pas-de-Calais 2011.
The race started in Douaisis and ended at Lwuy. Marcel Kittel took a total of 3 hours, 48 minutes and 24 seconds to cover the distance of 166 kilometres.
Aidis Kruopis of the Landbouwkrediet Team was the runner-up with the same timing as of Kittel. Michael Van Staeyen of the Topsport Vlaanderen team put in an excellent performance to claim the third position.
After the stage, the 22-year-old Kittel joked, “The team worked so incredibly well that I hardly dared to lose the sprint.”
There were three sprints and two mountains in the stage. In the 20 kilometres of the race, the group of four riders including Anthony Ravard, Martin Mortensen, Martijn Keizer and Julien El Fares made the first break. All of them gained a maximum advantage
of 3 minutes and 15 seconds over the peloton.
However, the Skil-Shimano team protected Marcel Kittel by setting the pace. After the 120 kilometres of the race, the peloton was divided into two but it gave an opportunity to Keizer to attack the group and reduce the advantage to 40 seconds.
The two chase groups came together and lead the group of three riders but Keizer maintained his speed until the start of the closing circuit.
The new group of 13 riders including Filippo Pozzato, Jonas Aaen Jorgensen, Morgan Kneisky and Mathieu Claude was established. They never gained an advantage of more than 30 seconds. Paolini flatted out the move, leaving the other riders behind to stay ahead
in the race.
After 10 kilometres, three riders Claude, Jorgensen and Van Leijen tried to gain an advantage to lead over the peloton but the Skil-Shimano team was in good from.
The bunch was leading but suffered a crash with just 4 kilometres to go. It allowed Johan Le Bon enough room to try for a solo move.
However, in the last sprint, Marcel Kittel crossed the finish line ahead of other riders and won the pink jersey.
Previously, Kittel won the Tour de Langkawi and also finished second in the sprint finish at Rund um Koln.
Marcel Kittel was also leading in the overall classification with a timing of 8 hours, 2 minutes and 50 seconds. Aidis Kruopis was the runner-up 20 seconds behind Marcel. Anthony Ravard was in third spot while Martijn Keizer was in fourth place with a difference
of 21 seconds.
The next stage will start in Caudry and end at Le Cateau. All the riders will cover the distance of 171.2 kilometres for victory.
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