Despite hitting 76kph in the tailwind sprint, Wouter Wippert was unable to win stage two of the Tour of Hainan. However, the fast Dutchman got close as he was narrowly beaten into second by Niccolo Bonifazio.

Wouter Wippert has claimed his fifth podium of the 2014 season, runner-up in stage 2 at the Tour of Hainan, in China.

Wippert, who has claimed eight victories for Drapac Professional Cycling this year, finished a narrow second to Niccolo Bonifazio (Lampre-Merida), with Andrea Palini (Lampre-Merida) third. Drapac’s Jonathan Cantwell was fourth.

The 24-year-old Dutchman is now fifth overall, four seconds behind race leader, Bonifazio. Wippert is also fifth in the points classification where Bonifazio leads, with Drapac fourth in the team classification.

The 207.2km stage – the longest of Hainan – finished in a bunch kick after the race came back together in the last 15km after being peppered with breakaways and attacks.

“After the last corner it was a strong tailwind so it was a really fast finish,” explained Wippert who finished in eighth place in the opening stage.

“The whole team did well to keep me in position and Jonny did a good job leading me out with 500 metres to go. Bonifazio was already too far in front to get him back before the finish.”

It was a close one for Wippert, who hit 76km/h in the finale with around 20 centimetres deciding the winner.

Drapac Directeur Sportif, Henk Vogels was pleased for the day’s result saying, “This was a reward for a solid team effort from everyone. There’s still a week of racing ahead here in Hainan and we’ll keep chipping away.”

The 2.HC Tour of Hainan continues on Wednesday with a 134.7km stage.