Roche and Deignan steady as Haussler delivers win

Nicolas Roche and Philip Deignan retained their GC positions on stage two of the Tour of Beijing as Heinrich Haussler celebrated a long awaited win after a photo finish sprint in Men Tou Gou.

The sprint provided the only excitement during the 137 kilometre stage which was dominated by an early break which were kept at close quarters by the peloton.

The group containing Dmitriy Muravyev (Radioshack), Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil DCM) and Jiang Kun (Chinese National Team) went away during the opening 60 kilometres as the race.

They carried a lead of almost three minutes into the first of four laps of a 21 kilometre finishing circuit which included a short third category climb.

They were caught on the final ascent of the climb and with the race entering its last 15 kilometres Angel Madranzo (Moviestar) and Nick Nuyens (Saxo Bank) were next to try their hand as escaping the peloton.

Their attack was quickly snuffed out as the HTC-Highroad team of race leader Tony Martin joined Team Sky in taking control of proceedings inside the closing 10 kilometres.

Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) and Deignan (Radioshack) avoided a spill in the peloton as it neared the finish before Haussler made the most of the chaotic sprint to see off Denis Galimzyanov (Katusha) and Theo Bos (Rabobank) at the line.

Roche was well up in the sprint  finishing 23rd with Deignan also steering clear of trouble and splits in the peloton as he finished 105th in the same time as Haussler.

Martin continues to lead David Millar (Garmin Cervelo) by 17 seconds with Alex Dowsett third at 24 seconds as one of three Team Sky riders occupying top ten positions.

A real shake-up in the GC is expected on stage three from Men Tou Gou to Yong Ning Town with the 162 kilometre trek over four categorised climbs presenting Roche and Deignan with their best opportunity to strike for a stage win and the overall GC.

Roche is likely to shoulder a heavier burden of responsibility during the stage depending on how his teammate Jean Christophe Peraud recovers from a fall during today’s stage.

The Frenchman who is lying 8th overall required the assistance of four teammates to pace him back to the peleton after the incident which incurred inside the closing 30 kilometres.

Roche and Peraud present the AG2R La Mondiale team’s best hope of registering the UCI points required to ensure that it maintains its Pro Tour status for the 2012 season.

Results:

Tour of Beijing

Stage 2: Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium – Men Tou Gou, 137 kilometres

1.  Heinrich Haussler (Aus) Team Garmin - Cervelo    3:03:30        
2.  Denis Galimzyanov (Rus) Katusha Team             
3.  Theo Bos (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team             
4.  Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Quick Step Cycling Team             
5.  Alexander Kristoff (Nor) BMC Racing Team             
6.  Elia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale             
7.  Davide Appollonio (Ita) Sky Procycling             
8.  Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Team Leopard-Trek             
9.  Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre - ISD             
10. Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Spa) Movistar Team

23. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale – same time
105. Philip Deignan (Irl) Team Radioshack – same time

General classification after stage 3:

1.  Tony Martin (Ger) HTC – Highroad 3:17:03        
2.  David Millar (Gbr) Team Garmin – Cervelo 0:00:17        
3.  Alex Dowsett (Gbr) Sky Procycling 0:00:24        
4.  Christopher Froome (Gbr) Sky Procycling 0:00:26        
5.  Stephen Cummings (Gbr) Sky Procycling 0:00:35        
6.  Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Omega Pharma – Lotto 0:00:39        
7.  Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:00:41        
8.  Jean Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:43        
9.  Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Pro Team Astana             
10. Dario Cataldo (Ita) Quick Step Cycling Team

13. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale at 49 seconds
64. Philip Deignan (Irl) Team Radioshack at 1 minutes, 09 seconds

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