Pascal Ackermann (BORA – hansgrohe) won today’s second stage of the Critérium du Dauphine from Montbrison to Belleville en Beaujolais as Daryl Impey (Mitchelton – Scott) moved into the race lead.

A four-man breakaway escaped relatively early into the 180-kilometre stage and built up a gap of six minutes over the peloton. BORA – hansgrohe took the lead of the peloton and worked for their young German sprinter Ackermann.

The escapees crested the first climbs of the day with a gap of four minutes, but the peloton worked hard to bring back the breakaway. With the gap dropping steadily, the break was caught with 2 kilometres remaining and the sprinters moved to the fore.

BORA – hansgrohe brought Ackermann into a perfect position, enabling the German to take his second WorldTour victory this season ahead of Edvald Boassen Hagen (Dimension Data) and Daryl Impey. Impey has now taken over the race lead from Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) and leads the former World Champion by 2″.

Photo: Luca Bettini/BettiniPhoto©2018

“I am more than happy with this victory,” said Ackermann. “After my mistake yesterday, I wanted to make up for it today. I waited until the final metres to start my sprint and gave it all. The team brought me into a perfect position and did a great job today, therefore a huge thank you my teammates for their effort.”

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