Tour du Haut Var: Jonathan Hivert goes two for two
Jonathan Hivert of Direct Energie wins the second stage and general classification of the Tour du Haut Var 2018. He vanquished both Alexis Vuillermoz (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Rudy Molard (FDJ) who looked strong at the finish together with Pinot, Madouas and Mauro Finetto of Delko Marseille-Provence KTM.
The race began at full speed with several big names including Thibaut Pinot (FDJ), making attacks early on in the day. About twenty kilometers after the start the first breakaway formed with Benoît Jarrier (Fortuneo-Samsic), Jérémy Lecroq (Vital Concept Cycling Club), Evaldas Siskevicius (Delko Marseille-Provence KTM) and Fernando Barcelo (Euskadi Basque Country- Murias).
The bunch let this quartet run away for large stretches up to six minutes in front. The third, and final ascent of Bastide de Tourtour finishes off many riders of the bunch and also Lecroq, who lost contact with the leading group. At 50 kilometers of the finish line, Ag2r took center stage, reeling in the break one by one, leaving only Siskevicius at 28 kilometers remaining.
It was then the attacks began from Antomarchi, El Farès, Grivko, and Domont but none would stick. These were followed by attempts from Pinot, Molard, Madouas, Vuillermoz, Hivert, and Finetto, with Canola failing to join them. Finetto may have looked the strongest but it was ultimately Hivert who once again would set himself apart.
Tour du Haut Var 2018 Stage 2 Result
- Jonathan HIVERT (Direct Energie)
- Alexis VUILLERMOZ (AG2R La Mondiale) +0’00”
- Rudy MOLARD (FDJ) +0’00”
- Mauro FINETTO (Delko Marseille-Provence KTM) +0’02”
- Valentin MADOUAS (FDJ) +0’02”
- Thibaut PINOT (FDJ) +0’02
- Quentin PACHER (Vital Concept Cycling Club) +0’38”
- Nicola BAGIOLI (Nippo-Vini Fantini-Europa Ovini) +0’38”
- Cyril BARTHE (Euskadi Basque Country-Murias) +0’38”
- Maxime VANTOMME (WB-Aqua Protect-Veranclassic) +0’38”