Tour de l’Ain: Double blow for second stage winner Guillaume Martin, Vansevenant 4th

(BELGA) Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) won the second stage of the contested Tour de l’Ain (2.1) three-stage cyclist on Wednesday over the hills of 144km between Saint-Vulbas in Lagnieu with the weak Col de Portes to cross (Cat 1) and two From the second category passes.

Mauri Vansevenant (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) placed fourth. The 29-year-old Frenchman presents himself with his first victory of the season and eighth professional success. Guillaume Martin takes the lead in the general classification. One-day sprint winner, Briton Jake Stewart (Groupama-FDJ) was logically stripped of his leader’s shirt. Four men – France’s Louis Richard (U Nantes Atlantic), Tony Hurel (Saint-Michel Hubert 93), Swede Jacob Eriksson (Rewal) and Hans Welksch (Germany U23s) – made the start of the stage. Wickish and Richard stayed ahead until the penultimate difficulty peak listed on the day, 34km from the finish. The Col de Portes climb handed its first attacks with the world champion in particular, France’s Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) and Maury van Sevenant, with France’s Rudy Mollard, Guillaume Martin, Remy Rocha, Colombian Ivan Sosa, Finn Jaco Hanen, New Zealander Georges Bennett. and Sebastian Reichenbach. Dane Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (Trek-Segredo) took a moment to lead. Only Alaphilippe and Rocha couldn’t follow through. Guillaume Martin slipped away from everyone within two goals. He defeated Matthias Skjelmos Jensen (Trek Segaverdo) and Rudy Mullard (Groupama-FDJ). This 34th edition of the Tour de l’Ain will end on Thursday with the 131km section between Hautville and Lilix with double Cole de Menthiers (Cat 1). The only Belgian winner on the list, Axel Merckx, won in 2003. Harm Vanhoek finished second last year behind Australian Michael Storer. (Belga)