Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge) won the second stage in the Tour of Utah as he crossed the finish line just ahead of race leader Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team).

While Van Avermaeet managed to slip away to a solo win on the opening stage, on stage two, a true bunch sprint decided the finish, and Matthews was able to top Van Avermaet in their head-to-head battle.

The escape of the day didn’t materialize for a while, with the peloton being very alert, and teams trying to put heavy hitters into the day’s move. Even Garmin-Sharp’s Ryder Hesjedal found himself in an attempt to jump clear.

It proved too difficult for a big group to get away, and the peloton finally allowed two riders go clear: Martin Wesemann (MTN-Qhubeka) and Michael Hepburn (Orica). Alex Candelario was initially with the move, but the Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies rider dropped back. The break finally took flight with 173km to go in the stage, and was aided by a crash in the main field as it was growing wings.

BMC Racing Team sat on the front of the peloton for most of the day and allowed the gap to grow, content to control the pace for Van Avermaet. With 91km to go, the breakaway had eight minutes in hand, though Boulder Mountain loomed, and promised to carve massive time from that advantage.

Wesemann was caught high on Boulder Mountain, but no teams pressed the issue and Andzs Flaksis (Bontrager) broke clear of the field to take the 10 KOM points on offer atop the climb.

Halfway through the descent, the attacks came in rapid succession. Christian Vande Velde (Garmin) threw down and opened up an immediate gap, dragging six or so riders with him at 25km to go. The field came back together again, but UnitedHealthcare’s Lucas Euser pushed ahead, upping the speed, and Garmin was keen to tag along. And then Hesjedal launched an attack, bursting apart the small move that dangled just in front of the peloton, but the Canadian former Giro d’Italia winner soon sat up.

BMC dominated most of the frenzied run in to Torrey, and Orica-GreenEdge had worked to bring back breakaways as well, so no true lead out could form. With Matthews and Van Avermaet freelancing, their know-how and speediness turned out to be the determining factors. Matthews went from quite some distance, from behind Van Avermaet, and no one instantly grabbed the wheel of the Orica-GreenEdge rider.

The yellow jersey of Van Avermaet appeared to dither for a split second before deciding to jump onto Matthews’ wheel. That slight hesitation, though, was sufficient to allow the Aussie to take the stage. With Van Avermaet’s bike throw, he was able to close down to half a length, but had to concede defeat.

In the general classification Matthews succeeded Van Avermaet as race leader by the slender margin of one second.
 

Tour of Utah, stage 2 result:

1 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica GreenEdge 5:17:56  

2 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team    

3 Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Bontrager Cycling Team    

4 Michel Koch (Ger) Cannondale Pro Cycling    

5 Kiel Reijnen (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling    

6 Tyler Magner (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development    

7 Alessandro Bazzana (Ita) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling    

8 Chad Beyer (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling    

9 Serghei Tvetcov (Mda) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda    

10 Janier Alexis Acevedo Calle (Col) Jamis-Hagens Berman    

11 Marsh Cooper (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies    

12 Gregory Obando Brenes (CRi) Champion System Pro Cycling    

13 Robin Carpenter (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development    

14 Christopher Baldwin (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling    

15 Stefano Agostini (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling    

16 Tsgabu Gebremaryam Grmay (Eth) MTN-Qhubeka    

17 Morgan Schmitt (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda    

18 Oscar Clark (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development    

19 Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack Leopard    

20 Michael Schaer (Swi) BMC Racing Team

Tour of Utah, general classification after stage 2:

1 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica GreenEdge 9:28:39  

2 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team 0:00:01"  

3 Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 0:00:11"  

4 Tyler Magner (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development 0:00:13"  

5 Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Bontrager Cycling Team    

6 Max Jenkins (USA) 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda 0:00:16"  

7 Tiago Machado (Por) RadioShack Leopard    

8 Kiel Reijnen (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 0:00:17"  

9 Michel Koch (Ger) Cannondale Pro Cycling    

10 Chad Beyer (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling