"Today I worked for 170km with no problem. Last year that was a lot for me."

Those were the words of Astana's Maxat Ayazbayev after stage two at the Tour of Denmark. Ayazbayev, who turned professional last year at the Tour of Denmark, spent Wednesday chasing a breakaway in support of teammate and race leader Lars Boom, on a long and fast day across the western fields of Jutland.

In the finish city of Aarhus on the shores of the North Sea, Boom crossed the line in the same time as stage winner Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway and keeps the leader's yellow jersey by nine seconds over Lars Bak of Denmark.

Wednesday's 185km stage will be the most difficult day of the race, and Ayazbayev will work again with his teammates to control an attacking peloton over almost 2000m of climbing in the hilly interior of Denmark.

"It was not really special to wear the jersey but it was a hard race and I did well in the finale," Boom told CyclingQuotes at the finish "I am happy. The team worked hard, especially Jakob [Fuglsang] in the finale, so of course I am happy.

"I don't know about the overall win. We have to take it day by day. I don't know the course for tomorrow but tonight I will take a look at it via YouTube."