In addition to Pellizzari, who celebrated his second victory as a professional after a stage at the Vuelta a Espana last year, his team-mates Lorenzo Finn and Aleksandr Vlasov were also part of the lead group, along with Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers). The group had formed over several stages on the final climb of the day. Only Gaffuri was already part of the early breakaway.

After his victory on the 147-kilometre stage from Telfs in Austria to Martell in South Tyrol, Pellizzari now also leads the overall standings, four seconds ahead of Arensman. Other highly rated pros were unable to fulfil expectations. Tom Pidcock (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), who had complained of weakness despite finishing second the day before, crossed the finish line seven minutes behind. Derek Gee-West (Lidl - Trek) was one minute behind, Ben O'Connor (Team Jayco AlUla) 25 seconds behind and last year's winner Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) 19 seconds behind, meaning that the classification has already taken on a clear shape.

Three, two, one ... Pellizzari

The preparatory race for the Giro d'Italia also provides an indication of the form of the pros who will start in the first Grand Tour of the year. Together with Jai Hindley, Pellizzari is expected to form Red Bull's double lead there. The 22-year-old seems to be in good form. Just like his record at the Tour of the Alps. This was the Italian's third time at the start. On his first participation in 2023, he finished a stage in third place, a year later in second place. The victory now is more or less logical.

"It was a crazy day. I finally won a stage here," said Pellizzari at the finish. "I have to thank my team-mates. I felt a bit tired after the first climb, but then it got better and better."

Tour of the Alps 2026 - Results of the 2nd stage

>> Tour of the Alps 2026: The contenders for victory in the check

How the 2nd stage of the Tour of the Alps 2026 went

Around ten kilometres after the start, the race really began. Oliver Stockwell (Bahrain - Victrious) initiated a group that grew to nine riders. Among them was a classic breakaway rider: Davide Bais (Team Polti VisitMalta). But the Austrian Continental Team Vorarlberg was also at the front again with the man in the mountain jersey, Emanuel Zangerle, and the German Dominik Röber. The Austrian national team was represented by three riders.

After 60 kilometres - the biggest hurdle of the day, the Piller Sattel, had already been crossed - the breakaway's lead was five minutes. However, over the next climb, the Reschen Pass, the border between Austria and Italy, the lead was halved. Tudor and Jayco AlUla, and later also INEOS Grenadiers, took on the main task of chasing. At the foot of the final climb, there was still about a minute left.

Bernal and Vlasov shift the balance of power in the leading group

Storer, Finn and Arensman were the first to break away from a larger group of favourites. Pellizzari joined them three kilometres before the finish, but he didn't stay there for long and quickly rode on to the front. At this point, the race leader was still the last breakaway rider, Gaffuri, who was caught by Pellizzari 2.2 kilometres before the finish. At the same time, Bernal had docked onto the chasing trio, increased the pace there and closed the gap to the front 1.4 kilometres before the finish. At the mountain classification, 900 metres before the finish, Vlasov had also made the jump.

In the subsequent short downhill section, it was the Russian who picked up the pace again with an attack. When the INEOS duo of Bernal and Arensman brought the chasers back up to speed, the race was already heading for the final sprint - again on uphill terrain. Pellizzari had the best legs there.