• Record streak continues for Emirati squad​

Marc Hirschi put in a stinging attack in the final kilometre of stage 2 at the Czech Tour to seal victory and the yellow jersey.

The Swiss puncheur bided his time on the summit finish of Pustevny, hitting out from a reduced group to haul back an earlier attack by Kevin Vermaerke (DSM-firmatech) in the finale and taking an emphatic win, the 16th of his career.

Diego Ulissi was close behind in 2nd place at 11” with Sergio Higuita (Bora-Hansgrohe) rounding out the podium at 14”.

Hirschi: “It was super hard because also the break didn’t go until 70km of racing and then it was a hard climb which we did twice. But I had super good legs and I could make the difference in the last km. The idea was to keep it all together for me and Ulissi and wait on the climb until the end and wait to see if the legs were good. Tomorrow the final is longer and maybe doesn’t suit me as well as today, but we will try and defend the jersey.”

Stage 2 results

1.Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates) 4:17:42

2.Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) +11”

3.Sergio Higuita (UAE Team Emirates) +14”

General Classification after stage 2

1.Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates) 7:47:57

2.Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) +15”

3.Sergio Higuita (UAE Team Emirates) +20”