The 193.7-kilometer stage two included the first climb of the race, but the category four “bump” was a mere formality in a predominantly downhill course and a mass sprint unfolded for a second straight day.

But well before the frantic final sprint unfolded, soon after the start flag dropped, Markel Irizar jumped into the day’s token escape, at first numbering two, then doubling to four with two welcomed bodies bridging across.

“The plan was to cover the big moves in case something happened, and I jumped to be in a group of six guys with Daniel Oss. And then it was uphill and Oss attacked and I followed and it was full gas," Irizar said.

“We knew it would be super difficult because of the headwind, and I think when Oss attacked he thought the strong guys would follow – we didn’t expect that we would be only two guys.  When we heard two more guys were coming we decided it was best to wait for them.”

However, the added firepower did little to increase the breakaway’s chance of succeeding into the headwind all day as Etixx-Quick Step kept tight control of the gap.

The break’s lead topped five minutes before the pace quickened behind to keep the quartet in a more manageable margin. Twenty-five kilometers from the end the peloton kicked into overdrive and the gap to the four leaders began to plummet.

Entering the two local circuits of 3.6 kilometers that were again tagged to the course’s backend, the breakaway still held a 25-second lead.  But it was a matter of time; with slightly over three kilometers remaining their day out front came to a sudden end as the sprinters’ teams rocked and rolled for position.

“It was really difficult, but I think that we worked well together and it was a pity that with three kilometers to go we were caught,” continued Irizar. “But okay we are an American team, an American sponsor, and at least we showed we are there to fight and that we will keep fighting to the end of the week. This is the biggest race in the US and for us it’s really important to battle every day.”

Jasper Stuyven and Stijn Devolder once again muscled with the big lead out trains to help Danny van Poppel lock and load for the stage sprint, but it was Mark Cavendish (Etixx-Quick Step) and Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) that fired the fastest, with Cavendish just edging Sagan at the line.

Van Poppel, 21, was in the mix of the tight sprint, finishing in 5th place. He would lose his Best Young Rider jersey to Robin Carpenter (Hincapie Racing) who was part of the four-man breakaway and claimed bonus seconds in the intermediate sprints. 

Markel Irizar earned a trip to the podium taking the Most Aggressive Rider Award for stage two after over 180 kilometers spent out front in the breakaway.  Irizar, himself a cancer survivor, gracefully accepted the prize appropriately titled the "Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous" award.