COXYDE, Belgium, March 28, 2012 (AFP) – German rider Marcel Kittel won the
second stage of the Three Days of La Panne, a 216.1km ride from Zottegem here
on Wednesday for his sixth victory of the season.
The 22-year-old edged out Norway’s Alexander Kristoff and Boy van Poppel of
the Netherlands in a sprint finish.
Kristoff had the consolation of taking the overall leader’s jersey from
Tuesday’s stage winner Peter Sagan of Slovakia.
The stage featured a long breakaway by Danish rider Brian Vandborg along
with Belgian duo Jonathan Breyne and Andy Cappelle, who at one point built up
a lead of seven minutes on the peloton.
However, the layout of the stage did not favor them and they were
eventually reeled in.
Two stages are to be contested on the final day of the race on Thursday,
the first over 112km and the final one a 14km time-trial in what is seen as a
prep race for Sunday’s second major classic of the season the Tour of Flanders.
2nd stage
1. Marcel Kittel (GER) Project 1t4i 4hr 51min 16sec, 2. Alexander Kristoff
(NOR) same time, 3. Boy van Poppel (NED) s.t., 4. Kenny van Hummel (NED) s.t.,
5. Andre Greipel (GER) s.t., 6. Jacopo Guarnieri (ITA) s.t., 7. Sebastien
Turgot (FRA) s.t., 8. Andre Schulze (GER) s.t., 9. Said Haddou (FRA) s.t., 10.
Alexander Serebryakov (RUS) s.t.
Overall:
1. Alexander Kristoff (NOR) Katusha 9hr 24min 51sec, 2. Jacopo Guarnieri
(ITA) s.t., 3. Maciej Bodnar (POL) at 1sec, 4. Fabio Sabatini (ITA) 2, 5.
Steve Chainel (FRA) 4, 6. Sebastien Turgot (FRA) 6, 7. Elia Favilli (ITA) 6,
8. Baptiste Planckaert (BEL) 6, 9. Tom Van Asbroeck (BEL) 6, 10. Egidijus
Juodvalkis (LTU) 6