First uphill finish of the race brings more gaps between the overall contenders.
The fourth different Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider in the last three years to top the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali general classification, Mauro Schmid began the difficult stage 2 with the leader’s jersey on his shoulders, but at the same time aware that his spell will be a short one, due to the numerous difficulties spread across the 165.9km course between Riccione and Longiano.
Protected by his hard-working Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl teammates, who nullified a plethora of attacks on the up-and-down roads of Emilia-Romagna, the 22-year-old from Bülach remained in the peloton until inside the final 30 kilometers, when a brutal injection of pace at the front of the bunch saw him drift towards the back and lose contact.
A 20-man group soon emerged and it was from there that Ethan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers) took the win in the closing meters of the stage. Mattia Cattaneo, who returned to racing recently after more than one month, came home as the best-placed Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
