Team Emirates’ Costa keeps lead, Bonifazio wins 2nd stage of Saudi Tour

A late break from the peloton by Niccolo Bonifazio lit up the final kilometre of stage 2 of the Saudi Tour on Wednesday as the Italian held on for victory just two seconds ahead of the fast closing pack.

In perfect racing conditions Total-Direct Energie rider Bonifazio won in 4hrs 32mins and 31sec with his early sprint, and was quickly followed across the line by German Phil Bauhaus of the Bahrain-McLaren team, Frenchman Nacer Bouhanni of Arkea-Samsic and a host of others.

Stage 1 winner and UAE Team Emirates’ riders Rui Costa maintains a wafer thin lead after the 187km run from Sadus Castle to the outskirts of Riyadh, just one second ahead of Heinrich Haussler, with Bouhanni a further second back in third.

Bonifazio is down in 91st place, over eight minutes behind after crashing during the first stage.

Thursday’s shorter but hilly 119km run from King Saud University to Al Bujairi will potentially shake up the standings with a further hilly stage before Saturday’s flat final stage run around Riyadh.

Meanwhile, the cycling Anti-Doping Foundation (CADF) admitted Wednesday it had no case against Danish star Jakob Fuglsang, who was accused of links with disgraced doctor Michele Ferrari.

Olympic road-race silver medallist Fuglsang was the top performer in last season’s spring classics, winning Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

CADF said it had received information suggesting a link between Ferrari and Astana team captain Fuglsang, who has never failed a doping test, but had been unable to produce any evidence.

“I have no case to answer. I am extremely concerned that such rumours could be spread out in the press,” Fuglsang said in a statement after the report.

A leaked CADF report was published Sunday by Danish newspaper Politiken suggesting the Italian doctor Michele Ferrari had visited Fuglsang in Monaco.

Ferrari was banned for life by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for his relationship with the disgraced Lance Armstrong, who was also kicked out of the sport and stripped of his seven Tour de France titles after he admitted doping.

Agencies



Stage 2:

1. Niccolo Bonifazio (ITA/TDE) 4hrs 32min 31sec

2. Phil Bauhaus (GER/BAH) at 02sec

3. Nacer Bouhanni (FRA/ARK) same time.

4. Timothy Dupont (BEL/CIW) s.t.

5. Jens Debusschere (BEL/B&B) s.t.

Overall standings:

1. Rui Costa (POR/UAE) 8hrs 24min 35sec

2. Heinrich Haussler (AUS/BAH) at 1sec

3. Nacer Bouhanni (FRA/ARK) 2sec

4. Phil Bauhaus (GER/BAH) 4sec

5. Andreas Lorentz Kron (DEN/Riwal Readynez cycling Team) at 9sec.