Team Katusha’s rider Jacopo Guarnieri took second in stage 2 of the WorldTour race Eneco Tour. The stage of 180 km around Breda (the Netherlands) finished in the expected bunch sprint. Guarnieri fought for the victory until the very last meters, but was outsprinted by the winner of 4 stages of the 2015 Tour de France Andre Greipel from Lotto Soudal.

"Honestly, I am happy with my result. To become the next rider on the finish line right behind Greipel who recently won 4 stages in the Tour – that’s a good performance. I feel good, I was able to reach a high level of my form, and today’s second place proves it. Yesterday we tried to help Rudi [Selig] in the sprint, while today the team decided to work for me. Viacheslav Kuznetsov, Alex Porsev and Rudi Selig provided me a great support on the finish, bringing me to Greipel’s wheel. Maybe, I could have won but Greipel, having a very strong lead-out, started his sprint with 250 meters to go. I tried to pass him, but missed a little. Anyway, I am glad with my second place," said Jacopo Guarnieri.

"Today, we changed our tactics a little bit and we decided to try the sprint with Jacopo. I see he is in a good form, we had confidence in him and he did everything almost perfectly. The whole team did a very good job today. The main stages, which will impact the GC, are still ahead. Viacheslav Kuznetsov and Pavel Kochetkov are ready for the challenge, while today’s podium gives us even more motivation," added team’s director Torsten Schmidt.

Third place in today’s stage was for Tom Boonen from Etixx – Quick Step. Another Katusha rider, Viacheslav Kuznetsov, was 7th.

In the general classification Jesper Asselman from Team Roompot Oranje Peloton is the new overall leader, while Jacopo Guarnieri is 5th, 9 seconds behind the leader.

Tomorrow it is the third stage of the race – 171,9 km in Belgium, from Beveren to Ardooie.