Teenager Jan Christen (UAE Team Emirates) took a thrilling first professional victory and moved into the leader’s jersey on stage 2 of the Giro d’Abruzzo after an opportunistic attack with 6.2km to go.
UAE Team Emirates controlled most of the 162km stage until 19-year-old Christen got the attacks going on the final uncategorised climb. He was marked heavily by Alexey Lutsenko (Astana Qazaqstan) on the uphill but didn’t give up the ghost with his winning move coming on the flat run to Magliano de’ Marsi.
He narrowly missed out on a maiden win with fifth at Trofeo Laigueglia and second at Milano-Torino but after being the most aggressive rider on the opening two days of racing in Abruzzo, Christen finally got his reward as he celebrated over the line with a huge smile on his face.
Lutsenko won the sprint behind for second after looking very strong throughout the climbs, with Thomas Pesenti (JCL Team UKYO) taking third. Christen’s two teammates Pavel Sivakov and Adam Yates finished safely in the chasing group ahead of tomorrow’s queen stage to Prati di Tivo.
Results
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