Team Giant-Shimano got close to a second straight win in the Tour of Beijing when Reinardt van Rensburg was narrowly beaten by Philippe Gilbert in the uphill sprint on stage 2. The South African was proud to have been up there with one of the best riders for this kind of finish.

Reinardt Janse van Rensburg has sprinted to second place on a shortened second stage of the Tour of Beijing, while Luka Mezgec conceded his overall race lead by the end of the stage.

Van Rensburg was just bested by Philippe Gilbert (BMC) on the uphill ramp to the line at the end of the stage that had to be reduced from 147.5km to 111km due to the heavy smog that is currently affecting the city of Beijing.

The race organisers took the decision to change the race length in the build up to the stage start, bringing the finish line forward, and then asking the riders to drive further on to the original finish for a neutralised ride to the planned finish line in respect to the fans and supporters out on the roads.

The shortened route meant that extra attention had to be paid to breakaways getting away, and the right formation had to be found early on that didn’t pose too much of a threat. Four riders eventually formed the move that Team Giant-Shimano were content with, as they looked to defend Mezgec’s race lead.

Their lead only ever grew to around two minutes and under the pressure of the peloton the four became two. With ten kilometres to race the duo in front had just 45 seconds advantage and with five kilometres to go it was all over for them.

The finish was now however on a tough uphill ramp rather than the original flatter finish that was planned and it was touch and go as to whether Mezgec could avoid any time gaps on this tough finish. The team focused on getting van Rensburg into position while Mezgec did what he could – eventually finishing 16 seconds down in 41st place.

Van Rensburg opened up the sprint in front in the final few hundred metres but Gilbert was too strong and waited until the right moment to come past him to take the win and with it the overall lead. Van Rensburg now sits in second place overall ahead of tomorrow’s tough, up and down third stage from Yanquing to Qianjiadian Chao Yang Temple.

Team Giant-Shimano coach Lionel Marie said after the finish: “After coming under some pressure, the organisers shortened the stage today and moved the finish forward to the last hill, after 111km. This changed our plan and the way we could focus on Luka, but we still took control and honoured the jersey, setting tempo behind the break.

“At the end the uphill was too much for Luka but Reinardt finished strongly. He launched his sprint too early and Gilbert came over the top. We no longer have the pressure of defending the race lead and tomorrow’s stage is a good one for the opportunists so we will look to see what we can do there.”

"Always frustrating to finish 2nd, but probably couldn´t be beaten by a stronger rider on a finish like that. So I'm very happy and proud," van Rensburg wrote on Twitter.