Like on the previous day, stage 2 of the World Ports Classic finished with an impressive bunched sprint in the streets of Rotterdam. After André Greipel yesterday, young Dutchman Ramon Sinkeldam flew to victory, beating Theo Bos and Greg Henderson to the line. Thanks to better finishing positions on both stages, Theo Bos, in the same time as Sinkeldam, wins the 2014 edition of the race. After two Belgians, Boonen and Maes, a Dutchman triumphs on the World Ports Classic.

 

After Rotterdam yesterday, the city of Antwerp welcomed the riders of the World Ports Classic for the start of stage two. A town that will also host the start of stage three of the 2015 Tour de France. 133 riders took off just after noon for a 160.5-km ride all the way to Rotterdam with the GC leader’s Blue Jersey on the shoulders of stage 1 winner André Greipel. The pace was fast straight from kilometre 0 as the sprinters’ teams took command of the pack with the intention to capture precious bonus seconds at the first intermediate sprint (km 15.5). And indeed the strong men battled it out just outside Antwerp, Theo Bos (BEL) winning the sprint ahead of Porsev (KAT) and Pelucchi (IAM).

 

Eventually after 39 kilometres, five men managed to break away: Poulhies (COF), Kreder (WGG), Premont (WBC), Thomson (MTN) and Pfingsten (RIJ). Their lead grew to reach 2’25 at Km 50 but never more as teams Lotto-Belisol, Katusha and Belkin started chasing early. 

 

Despite the cobbled sectors on the course, the gap stabilized at around 2’ for the leading men. The situation started changing just before the second bonus sprint. Indeed Premont was the first to attack, making it first to the line ahead of Pfingsten and Kreder while the pack remained 1’20 adrift. As the front five bunched up together again, it was Thomson’s turn to take off. His move at km 118 proved to be decisive. The South African indeed continued on his own with a 20” lead over Pfingsten and 1’50 over the pack that had gobbled up the other former escapees. With 25kms to go, Thomson could enjoy a promising 1’25 advantage over the chasing pack that had caught Pfingsten.

 

But the big teams pushed harder at the front of the main field and Thomson’s lead dropped down from 1’20 with 20kms to go to only 12” as he took on the last 10 kilometres. The last escapee was finally caught after 152kms. As teams Lotto-Belisol and Belkin moved to the front, the pack remained bunched all the way to the finish. Time had come for a royal sprint in the streets of Rotterdam. While a crash occurred in the pack forcing Blue Jersey André Greipel to stop his effort, Ramon Sinkeldam (GIA) proved to be the fastest of the lot, outsprinting Theo Bos (BEL) and Greg Henderson (LTB) to the line. On the podium of all three stages of the Tour de Picardie just a week ago, the young Dutchman conquers his first major success.

 

But the winner of Paris-Roubaix Espoirs back in 2011 had to settle for second spot of the final GC despite being in the same time as the winner. Indeed third yesterday and second today, Theo Bos claims this 3rd edition of the World Ports Classic thanks to his stage positions. After winning stage 1 of the event in 2012, already in Rotterdam, the 30-year-old Dutchman conquers his first GC success and adds a 38th line to his winning list. He also captures the points classification while Sinkeldam finishes best young rider.