Jason Tesson (TotalEnergies) won stage 2 of La Route d’Occitanie after beating Corbin Strong (Israel Premier Tech) and Elia Viviani (Ineos) in a bunch sprint in Graulhet.
Marijn van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost) finished 13th on the stage to retain the overall lead, four seconds ahead of Strong.
The stage was animated by Carlos Garcia Pierna (Equipo Kern Pharma) who pressed clear alone after being part of the day’s early break, but he was recaptured with a shade under 50km to go.
Article continues belowWith an eye to the overall standings, Benoît Cosnefroy (AG2R Citroën) and Michael Woods (Israel Premier Tech) successfully contested the intermediate sprints in the finale, but the day was always likely to end in a mass finish.
It was the sixth win of the Frenchman’s career and his third of the 2023 season after his brace of victories at the Tropicale Amissa Bongo in January.
Results
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Sticky situation for Filippo Ganna resolved with 200 CHF fine after taking victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen
Race officials ruled race winner and Ineos Grenadiers used 'sticky bottle' for Italian to recover quickly from first mechanical -
'I just don't feel the best' – Lingering illness continues to disrupt Elisa Longo Borghini with time running out to recover fully for Tour of Flanders
Italian Champion still suffering with nasty cough as headline Flemish race quickly approaches in just four days away -
Mads Pedersen definitely on the up but his sprint is 'the part missing from the injury' ahead of Tour of Flanders
Another top 10 for Dane in Dwars door Vlaanderen, only his third race back from a long time on the sidelines -
'I have mixed feelings' - Late-race gamble falls short for Demi Vollering at Dwars door Vlaanderen
'In the end, there are always things you can do better in hindsight' as FDJ United-Suez talent carries strong form into the Tour of Flanders
