After the loss of Alberto Contador, Tinkoff-Saxo have no potential overall winner of the Tour of Beijing. Instead, the team will try to win a stage and today Manuele Boaro gave it a go in the finale.

Today’s 111 kilometer long slightly undulating second stage of the World Tour stage race, Tour of Beijing from Chong Li to Yanqing finished in a bunch sprint after a late attack from Tinkoff-Saxo’s Manuele Boaro. Philippe Gilbert won the stage which was shortened due to air pollution. 

A breakaway trio was digging deep throughout the stage to stay clear of the chasing pack but a bunch sprint was on the horizon. It turned into a the old game of cat and mouse and the pack was only waiting moment to strike to avoid any counter moves.

A relatively short climb with 10 kilometers to go split up the front group and Laurent Mangel (FDJ) tenaciously hung on to the lead until the top of the climb where he back in the now diminished field. Throughout the entire finale, Tinkoff-Saxo’s Chris Juul-Jensen was always visible near the front of the peloton but it was teammate Manuele Boaro who launched a stinging  late solo attack. It was in vain as he was dragged back in close to the finish line.

As the road kicked up towards the finish line, Philippe Gilbert (BMC) leaped forwards to take the stage win while the peloton literally shattered to pieces.

DS Fabrizio Guidi states:

“It was a textbook stage with a break who fought hard in order to make it to the finish line and when they realized they couldn’t maintain the gap, they fought for the most combative rider honor. We knew it was a rather punchy finale and I think Gilbert was the obvious winner today but Boaro showed his usual fighter instinct and refused to forfeit without a fight. Tomorrow’s stage will be a bit harder with more climbs and we’re feeling up for another battle."