The second stage of the 102nd Tour de France really was spectacular, at the end André Greipel was the one who could triumph. The peloton left Utrecht this afternoon for a ride of 166 kilometres to Zealand. The finish was located on the artificial island Neeltje Jans. The rain and wind made the race hard.

Immediately after the official start four riders attacked, the rest of the peloton didn’t react and let them go. The four were Jan Barta, Stef Clement, Armindo Fonseca and Perrig Quéméneur. Etixx – QuickStep controlled the bunch, the escapees never got more than three minutes lead. With more than sixty kilometres to go echelons were formed a first time. Also in front the situation changed, Barta left the others behind. Later Clement and Fonseca would rejoin him. In the back the peloton came back together.

During the stage there were several crashes, also three Lotto Soudal riders hit the ground: Thomas De Gendt, Jens Debusschere and Adam Hansen. All three could continue. With about fifty kilometres to go a crash split the peloton in two. This was the decisive moment, Lotto Soudal raised the pace. Eventually a group of 25 riders would enter the finale together; Tony Gallopin, André Greipel and Marcel Sieberg were part of it.

In the last kilometres Sieberg and Gallopinmade sure their teammate was in a good position to start the sprint. The Gorilla beat Peter Sagan. Fabian Cancellara, who was third, is the new owner of the yellow jersey. The green jersey will be worn by Greipel tomorrow. Today it was the tenth victory of the season for the German, the 25th of this year for Lotto Soudal!

“This was the first stage I could win, it’s magnificent that I did. This is a fantastic reward for the team and me. In the Tour everyone starts from zero, it are the results here that count. This determines if your season is successful or not. A victory at the Tour is at least as double important as anywhere else," Greipel said.

“In our echelon were six riders of Etixx – QuickStep and strong riders like Cancellara and Dumoulin. We tried to stay a bit under the radar, but did our bit when the echelons were formed. The first time eight of us were part of the first group. The second time the selection was bigger and we were with three in a group of twenty-five. I considered Cavendish and Sagan to be my main opponents for the sprint. I’m happy I could stay ahead of them.

"Our group never slowed down but we saved a bit of energy. With 2km to go, I told Tony [Gallopin] and Marcel Sieberg to wait as long as possible because I felt the head wind. Sieberg always knows which one is the right wheel to follow. He's not just a good rider, he's my best friend. I know him since I started cycling. He's a really smart rider. It means a lot to have him in a team.

"I've seen a high number of Quick Step riders in our group but Mark Renshaw opened the sprint too early. He forced Cavendish to go early too but I wasn't confident yet because Cavendish has showed in the past that he was able to keep that speed for a long time and win that way. But I was also able to stay on his wheel and pass him.

"There was a possibility to have a German stage winner and a German yellow jersey today but I don't know what happened to Tony [Martin], I'm just happy with my first stage victory only on the second day of the Tour de France. Tomorrow it'll be my first time in the green jersey at the Tour de France and I will enjoy it before thinking of targeting it.

“We had a plan before the start and did a recon last Wednesday. We were focused today, but not stressed. I finished it off, but this victory one is of the entire team. I win a Tour stage for the fifth year in a row, but it’s the first time my wife is here so that makes it even more special. I’m wearing the green jersey for the first time in my career, that’s a nice extra. Tonight I will enjoy this victory and then we’ll see what happens the next days.”