Everybody had talked about today's second stage of Tirreno-Adriatico as seasonøs first battle between Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) and Mark Cavendish (OmegaPharma-QuickStep). Both ended up by being beaten by Matthew Goss who secured the second win for Orica-GreenEdge on an incredible day for the Australian team.

This year'd edition of Tirreno-Adriatico has an incredible number of sprinters on the start line, and they all looked to today's second stage as their main stomping ground. On a rainy day the expected bunch sprint ensued, and Matthew Goss turned out to be the fastest.

The day's early break was made up of Kevin Hulsmans (Vini Fantini), Cesare Benedetti (NetApp-Endura) and Garokoitz Bravo (Euskaltel-Euskadi). They built up a substantial gap, but were always kept under firm control by the peloton. In the end they were brought back, and the sprint teams started to line up their trains.

In the final kilometers Cannondale and Lotto-Belisol fought to take over the front for their sprinters Sagan and Greipel. On the line both were, however, denied by a fast finishing Goss who took the victory ahead of Manuel Belletti (Ag2r) and Gerald Ciolek (MTN-Qhubeka).

Mark Cavendish ended the day in fifth, but had the consolation of keeping his firm grip on the race's blue leader's jersey. He will have to defend in on tomorrow's third stage in which a flat opening is followed by a hilly final. A sprint is expected, but the challenges towards the end of the stage makes it far from certain that all the big sprinters will be there in the end.

Result

1  Matthew Harley Goss - Orica-GreenEdge     
2  Manuel Belletti - AG2R La Mondiale     
3  Gerald Ciolek - MTN-Qhubeka     
4  Roberto Ferrari - Lampre-Merida     
5  Mark Cavendish - Omega Pharma-Quick Step     
6  Arnaud Demare - FDJ     
7  André Greipel - Lotto Belisol     
8  Kristian Sbaragli - MTN-Qhubeka     
9  Peter Sagan - Cannondale Pro Cycling     
10  Davide Appollonio - AG2R La Mondiale