Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Michal Kwiatkowski finished 3rd in a hectic finale at the 156km Stage 2 of the Tour de France on Sunday, and now wears the white jersey for best young rider.
Jan Bakelants (Radioshack-Leopard) won the stage, barely holding off a charging peloton after launching an attack with 1km to go. Peter Sagan (Cannondale) finished 2nd, and young Kwiatkowski 3rd in his Polish Champion Jersey.
Bakelants attacked out of a group including OPQS rider Sylvain Chavanel and four other riders. As they realized they might be caught as the gap was minimal, Bakelants took his chance.
Tony Martin, after a hard crash at Tour de France Stage 1, finished the stage.
Michal Kwiatkowski
"It's an amazing day," Kwiatkowski said. "I had a plan to finish the Tour de France but I didn't have a plan to have the white jersey. So, I was so happy. Especially after such an unlucky day yesterday. I finished 3rd in the stage today and I took the white jersey. This jersey is well respected. I really don't know how many stages I will be able to keep it, but it will be nice to have it even for one day. My goal in this Tour de France is to learn as much as I can and finish this Tour de France. I don't really think about the white jersey like that."
Tony Martin
"Actually it's not too bad," Martin said of his condition. "First of all I was happy to be able to start here. OK, my feeling was good today compared to what happened yesterday but for sure I suffered today. I'm happy to be able to finish today. I'm quite optimistic about the next stages."
Sylvain Chavanel
"I attacked after the group caught Kwiatkowski and Sagan," Chavanel said. "I think it was the right moment to move. The other five riders came with me. We were working well together since the last 2km. When Bakelants went I didn't want to take the responsibility to close the gap alone. If you want to win sometimes you have to take a few risks and play tactically. It's a pity because I was strong and a win on my birthday would have been fantastic. However let me congratulate Kwiato for his white jersey, and Tony for the courage he showed today after yesterday's crash."