Irish rider Matthew Teggart has taken over the lead in the King of the Mountains competition at the Tour de l’Avenir (2.NCup) after today’s 132.4-kilometre second stage from Inzinzac-Lochrist to Bignan.

Teggart had finished the opening stage on equal points in the competition with Frenchman Valentin Madouas but today took one point on the Cote de Plumeliau which was the only categorised climb of the day, to take over the jersey from Madouas.

On yesterday’s opening stage starting and finishing in Loudéac, the Banbridge rider infiltrated the break of the day, which included some of the favourites for the race including Egan Bernal (Colombia) and Pavel Sivakov (Russia). All of the break, bar Kasper Asgreen (Denmark), were caught inside the closing kilometre and the Dane hung on to win by four seconds from Norway’s Kristoffer Halvorsen.

“It’s a bit surreal, to think of the names who have worn this jersey,” Teggart said after the stage. “It was amazing to even get the chance to ride such a prestigious race so to get on the podium is unbelievable.”

Today’s stage finished in a bunch sprint which was won by Fabio Jakobsen (Netherlands) who finished ahead of Álvaro José Hodeg (Colombia) and Halvorsen. All of the Irish riders finished in the bunch and Asgreen maintained his overall lead.

The race continues tomorrow with a 125.7-kilometre stage from Missilla to Châteaubriant with the riders facing just one fourth-category climb en route.

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