Breakaway specialist Alessandro De Marchi does it again on stage 2 of the 2024 Tour of the Alps

On a day for the break, the vastly-experienced breakaway specialist, Alessandro De Marchi has taken a brilliant stage win at the Tour of the Alps.

Five men attacked early to form a strong breakaway, packed with notable names such as Alessandro De Marchi, Simon Pellaud, Patrick Gamper, Lukas Postlberger and Japanese talent, Yuma Koishi. With 45km still to go however, Koishi dropped back, leaving just four riders up ahead around three minutes clear of an INEOS Grenadiers led peloton.

With over 30km still to go, and the peloton not having truly picked up the pace yet, Gamper decided to attack his breakaway companions and try his luck up ahead solo, putting his time-trial capabilities to good use. Once the final climb began though, Gamper quickly was caught and then overtaken by de Marchi who started to ride away himself.

In better news for the break, INEOS and the rest of the peloton had seemingly no intention of chasing down the riders up ahead. By the time, De Marchi began his descent towards the line, the Italian had 45 seconds over his nearest chaser and still three minutes from the peloton.

The 37-year-old Italian hasn't been guaranteed a spot on Team Jayco AlUla's Giro d'Italia lineup yet, but with this victory, the 7th of his career, will have done no harm to De Marchi's hopes. Behind, Pellaud and Gamper battled it out for second and third.