Danish neo-pro Magnus Cort has sprinted to ninth on the second stage ofDriedaagse De Panne-Koksijde this afternoon.

Cort was brought up to position for the final kilometres by his ORICA-GreenEDGEteammates and navigated a technical and messy finale that disrupted most of the lead out trains that had been formulated.

Alexander Kristoff (Team Katusha) won his second consecutive stage to increase his overall lead to 16seconds.

“Magnus is coming back after being sick so we know that he is not in the best condition,” sport director Laurenzo Lapage said. “But he is getting better and better every stage and he could show that today.”

“I think tomorrow there will be a big chance it will be a sprint again so we will have a meeting tonight and likely go for him again in the morning stage before trying for a good result in the time trial in the afternoon.”

Day two was a much more settled start than that of yesterday’s chaos. Twelve riders worked off the front with a relaxed peloton allowing them 11minutes advantage before working to diminish the gap.

They were assisted by strong headwinds that took its toll on the front group and with 50km still to race eight riders remained in front with just a single minute lead.

As they entered into the 13km finish circuit, of which they completed three laps, the early day’s break had just 30seconds and they held on before their hopes were finally demolished with 20km remaining.  

A secondary attack of three rides never looked to threaten as multiple teams headed a chasing peloton resolute on creating a bunch sprint.

Much effort in the closing ten kilometres was made to formulate sprint trains, but a technical final saw them redundant in the final kick to the line.

The last day of Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde is a double-header with the final road stage in the morning backed up with a 14.2km individual time trial in the afternoon.