Vakoc Makes Solo Move Stick, Takes GC Lead in Poland

Aug 04, 2014 – Czech Petr Vakoc won the second stage of the Tour of Poland on Monday to move into the overall lead. The 22-year-old, winner of the Tour of Slovakia last year, ditched his two Polish fellow escape companions in the last 20km and soloed to victory on the 226km stage from Torun to Warsaw.

AFP/TourdePologne/Szymon Gruchalski/IMGstudio

Australian Michael Matthews took second in a sprint finish 21sec back with Belgian Boris Vallee third. Vakoc’s win left him 27sec ahead of Belarussian Yauheni Hutarovich, who started the day in yellow having won Sunday’s opening stage, in the overall standings with Russian Roman Maikin third at 31sec.

“Being UCI World Tour this is a big race, so to win solo like this is unbelievable,” Vakoc said. “The toughest moment was when we started the finishing circuit. The gap was falling fast and my legs started to tire a bit. Then with five kilometers to go it started to get really hard but I just gave it everything for those last five kilometers. I didn’t think about anything other than using every ounce of energy that I had. It’s a beautiful moment for me. I didn’t expect it, and it seems neither did the peloton. When the three of us went away and had a gap at first I wasn’t so sure about my decision, but then I thought maybe if we kept the gap open and I saved enough energy in the final kilometers, I could try to go alone. I was concentrating on trying to save some energy to win a stage.”

“It’s a great feeling to have this effort pay off and earn the first UCI World Tour victory of my career here in Poland.” Vakoc continued. “It seems Poland brings me luck as both of my University Championship victories also happened here a few weeks ago. I like racing in Poland. Now, I’d like to fight to keep the jersey as long as I can. It will be hard, but I will fight and I know my teammates will fight with me. We will see in the coming days. I’m a young student on and off the bike and this will be an opportunity to learn in the best way possible. I’d like to thank OPQS for giving me a chance today, and at Tour de Pologne, in this jersey that I am so proud to wear.”

Results from the second stage of the Tour of Poland – 226km from Torun to Warsaw.

Stage
1. Petr Vakoc (CZE/OPQ) 5hr 23min 54sec
2. Michael Matthews (AUS/OGE) at 21sec
3. Boris Vallee (BEL/N67) same time
4. Ramon Sinkeldam (NED/GIA) s.t.
5. Yauheni Hutarovich (BLR/AG2R) s.t.
6. Nicolas Maes (BEL/OPQ) s.t.
7. Marco Haller (AUT/KAT) s.t.
8. Guillaume Boivin (CAN/Cannondale) s.t.
9. Luka Mezgec (SLO/GIA) s.t
10. Tyler Farrar (USA/GRS) s.t.

Overall
1. Petr Vakoc (CZE/OPQ) 11hr 11min 28sec
2. Yauheni Hutarovich (BLR/AG2R) at 27sec
3. Roman Maikin (RUS/RVL) 31
4. Boris Vallee (BEL/N67) 33
5. Manuele Mori (ITA/N62) s.t.
6. Maciej Paterski (POL/CCC) 35
7. Matthias Krizek (AUT/CAN) s.t.
8. Nicolas Maes (BEL/OPQ) 37
9. Marco Haller (AUT/KAT) s.t.
10. Guillaume Boivin (CAN/Cannondale) s.t.

For full results, race info and more photos go to tourdepologne.pl

For photos from Stage click here.