Alexandre Geniez (AG2R) won the second stage of the Tour de la Provence, the first win of the season for him and the second for his team. Rohan Dennis (BMC) and Nicolas Edet (Cofidis) rounded-out the podium.
“During the Tour du Haut-Var, I already had the feeling that the legs were really there,” said Geniez. “And even if on paper the Tour de Provence doesn’t look very hard, it is important to create opportunities and then take advantage of them. I have never won so early in any season, so this is a great satisfaction.
The early break consisted of Flavien Dassonville (HP BTP-Auber 93) Paul Sauvage (France) Danilo Celano (Amore & Vita-Selle SMP) and Adriano Brogi (GM Europe Ovini). Jérémy Roy (FDJ) later bridged across to make it five. However, the hilly parcours took its toll on the break and after climbing the Petit Galibier only Roy, Brogi and Dassonville remained, with the peloton closing in fast.
The break was caught with 28km to go. Into the finish a group of five escaped off the front with Mohoric trying to go solo. That attempt was neutralised and Geniez came to the line with the fastest sprint out of the group.
“There is still one stage, and though initially it looks pretty much tailored to the puncheurs, we will do everything we can to try and win the overall,” said Geniez. “Rohan Denis is certainly no pushover, but we will do everything we can to make it happen.”
Tour la Provence 2017 – stage 2 results (Miramas – La Ciotat):
| 1 | Alexandre Geniez (AG2R) | 3:57:12 |
| 2 | Rohan Dennis (BMC) | ,, |
| 3 | Nicolas Edet (Cofidis) | ,, |
| 4 | Matej Mohoric (UAE Team Emirates) | ,, |
| 5 | Jérémy Lecroq (Roubaix – Lille Metropole) | +04” |
| 6 | Bryan Alaphilippe (Armee de Terre) | ,, |
| 7 | Simon Sellier (France) | ,, |
| 8 | David Menut (HP BTP – Auber 93) | ,, |
| 9 | Oliviero Troia (UAE Team Emirates) | ,, |
| 10 | Armindo Fonseca (Fortuneo – Vital Concept) | ,, |
General classification after stage 2:
| 1 | Rohan Dennis (BMC) | 8:49:55 |
| 2 | Alexandre Geniez (AG2R) | ,, |
| 3 | Matej Mohoric (UAE Team Emirates) | ,, |
| 4 | Nicolas Edet (Cofidis) | ,, |
| 5 | Jérémy Lecroq (Roubaix – Lille Metropole) | +04” |
| 6 | Justin Jules (WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect) | ,, |
| 7 | David Menut (HP BTP – Auber 93) | ,, |
| 8 | Oliviero Troia (UAE Team Emirates) | ,, |
| 9 | Rudy Barbier (AG2R) | ,, |
| 10 | Bryan Alaphilippe (Armee de Terre) | ,, |
