Matthias Skjelmose (Trek-Segafredo) celebrates his win(Image credit: Luc ClaessenGetty Images)
The peloton early on stage 2(Image credit: Luc ClaessenGetty Images)
Marco Brenner (Team DSM) on the attack(Image credit: Luc ClaessenGetty Images)
David Gaudu (Grouapama-FDJ) leads the way(Image credit: Luc ClaessenGetty Images)
The peloton during stage 2(Image credit: Luc ClaessenGetty Images)
Idar Andersen (Uno-X) leads an attack(Image credit: Luc ClaessenGetty Images)
Race leader Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-Samsic)(Image credit: Luc ClaessenGetty Images)
Arkea-Samsic in charge at the head of the peloton(Image credit: Luc ClaessenGetty Images)
EF Education-EasyPost work in the peloton late in the stage(Image credit: Luc ClaessenGetty Images)
Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) was the last man left from the early break(Image credit: Luc ClaessenGetty Images)
Mattias Skjelmose (Trek-Segafredo) took his second win of the season on stage 2 of the Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var, sprinting to the line ahead of Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) and Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies).
Things came back together for the finale after a number of attacks leading into the last kilometres of the 179km stage. Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) was the last man standing from the early breakaway, holding on over the main climb of the day, the Col du Pilon, and getting caught at the 7km to go mark.
Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) would launch an attack heading into the closing kilometres of the stage but both he and race leader Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-Samsic) would see their efforts foiled by the chasing pack.
Despite the moves flowing at the front, a reduced peloton came together for the final run to the line and a sprint finish. Skjelmose, who beat Powless at Mont Bouquet at the Etoile de Bessèges at the start of the month, repeated the trick here to win once again.
Vauquelin retains the yellow jersey at the midway point of the three-day race, leading from Powless by seven seconds. Sunday's final stage brings a hilly 132.5km challenge to Vence.
Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, joining in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later being hired full-time. Before joining the team, they had written for numerous major publications in the cycling world, including CyclingWeekly and Rouleur.
Dani has reported from the world's top races, including the Tour de France, Road World Championships, and the spring Classics. They have interviewed many of the sport's biggest stars, including Mathieu van der Poel, Demi Vollering, and Remco Evenepoel. Their favourite races are the Giro d'Italia, Strade Bianche and Paris-Roubaix.
