Bou-ty is Nacer’s this time
NACER BOUHANNI took victory on stage two of the Tour de Yorkshire in Harrogate.
The French sprinter finished comfortably clear of OricaScott’s Caleb Ewan, who finished in second place for a second day running.
The consolation for Australian Ewan was taking over as overall race leader.
It was an untidy sprint at the end of the 122.5km stage from Tadcaster after a string of late attacks had knocked the sprint trains off stride.
“The conclusion was hard and steep,” said Bouhanni. “Here in Yorkshire it seems like all the roads are hilly.
“This is my fourth win of the season and it gives me confidence. There were so many people on the road today it felt like the Tour de France.”
Ewan said: “It is disappointing, two seconds in a row. I’ve been feeling pretty good for the last couple of days and it would have been nice to finish it off, but we stuffed it up a little bit in the finish and we paid for it.”
With time bonuses applied, Ewan leads overall by two seconds from Bouhanni.
The Australian, who knows he will surrender the blue jersey on today’s concluding stage from Bradford to Fox Valley, said it was a big honour to lead the race but would have swapped his blue jersey for a stage win.
Ewan said: “It’s satisfying wearing the leader’s jersey but it’s a different kind of feeling to crossing first.”
Home favourite Lizzie Deignan claimed an emphatic victory in the women’s Tour de Yorkshire.
The 28-year-old from Otley, racing the 84-mile route from Tadcaster to Harrogate, launched a solo attack with around nine miles to go to take the win.
SIMON YATES produced a stunning ride to take the overall lead in the Tour of Romandie.
The 24-year-old from Bury broke clear on the final climb with Richie Porte, and came around him to clinch the win.
He holds a 19-second lead over Porte going into today’s final stage, an 11-mile timetrial around Lausanne.