Tour Down Under 2024: Top talent del Toro outsprints the sprinters on stage 2

One kilometre before the finish, Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) attacked out of the peloton, passed all the riders and opened up a small gap. For a moment, the riders behind him looked at each other - the youngster capitalised on this and saved his lead over the finish line. The previous day's winner Sam Welsford (Bora-Hansgrohe) had to admit defeat today and finished just under a minute behind.

>> How the 1st stage of the Tour Down Under went

Isaac Del Toro capitalises on the competition's hesitation

With 20 kilometres to go, it still looked like a bunch sprint as the breakaway had already been caught. Riders led by Luke Plapp and Quinn Simmons repeatedly tried to escape the peloton. The sprinter teams, however, managed to catch up with them again. One kilometre before the finish there was an attack by del Toro, to which no rider could find an answer. The sprinters hesitated, allowing del Toro to save his narrow lead over the finish line.

It's incredible! I don't know what to say - it's an emotional victory for me. - Isaac del Toro in the winner's interview.

>> Tour Down Under 2024: Stages and start list

>> Tour Down Under 2024: All men's and women's results at a glance

Tour Down Under 2024 - Results: The top 10 of stage 2

1. Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) 3:29:37
2. Corbin Strong (Israel-Premier Tech) +0:00
3. Stephen Williams (Israel-Premier Tech) +0:00
4. Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty) +0:00
5. Caleb Ewan (Jayco-AlUla) +0:00
6. Lars Boven (Alpecin-Deceuninck) +0:00
7. Ruben Guerreiro (Movistar) +0:00
8. Danny van Poppel (Bora-Hansgrohe) +0:00
9. Max Kanter (Astana Qazaqstan Team) +0:00
10. Laurence Pithie (Groupama-FDJ) +0:00

The current standings in the overall standings

1. Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) 6:55:22
2. Corbin Strong (Israel-Premier Tech) +0:02
3. Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty) +0:07
4. Stephen Williams (Israel-Premier Tech) +0:07
5. Georg Zimmermann (Intermarche-Wanty) +0:08
6. Finn Fisher-Black (UAE Team Emirates) +0:08
7. Louis Barre (Arkea-B&B Hotels) +0:09
8. Caleb Ewan (Jayco-AlUla) +0:10
9. Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos Grenadiers) +0:10
10. Danny van Poppel (Bora-Hansgrohe) +0:11

How the 2nd stage of the Tour Down Under 2024 went

Stage 2 of the Tour Down Under began immediately with a steep category 2 climb. A leading group of the day quickly formed there, consisting of Jardi Christiaan van der Lee (EF Education-EasyPost) and Luke Burns (Australian national team). The peloton gave the two riders a maximum lead of over six minutes and they won all three mountain classifications: The Dutchman won the first mountain classification and the Australian, who will also wear the mountain jersey tomorrow, won the next two.

In the peloton, the two teams Bora-Hansgrohe, which provided yesterday's stage winner and overall leader Sam Welsford, and the local heroes Jayco-AlUla set the pace. They made sure that the two escapees were caught 20 kilometres before the finish.

Riders then tried again and again to break away from the peloton - without success for the time being: on the last climb, Luke Plapp started with Jhonatan Narvaez on his rear wheel and was able to open up a small gap, while the first riders at the back of the peloton had to break away. The previous day's winner Welsford also lost contact with the leaders and was no longer able to make a move. The two breakaway riders were quickly caught by the peloton.

>> Tour Down Under 2024: The favourites

Quinn Simmons also tried to escape to the front a few kilometres before the finish. One kilometre before the finish, the American's plan came to an end as Isaac del Toro passed him with a spirited attack. The 20-year-old surprised the sprinters by stepping up the pace. No-one was able to follow the Mexican, allowing him to cross the finish line with his lead. Behind him, there was a bunch sprint in which the two Israel-Premier Tech riders Corbin Strong and Stephen Williams were the fastest. They completed the podium behind the day's winner.