Stage 2 of the 2017 Sibiu Cycling Tour will once again begin in the Romanian city of Sibiu, and will take the riders 160 kilometers to a summit finish at Balea Lac.
This stage will have fewer overall climbs than the relentless Stage 1, but the final climb up Balea Lac will likely create major separation amount the peloton and will push riders to their climbing limits.
Stage 2 boasts four climbs, along with three intermediate sprint checkpoints.
The first climb of the stage will occur 6.3 kilometers into the race at Cisnadioara. This climb will only be 1.6 kilometers, but riders will still feel the 5.3% average gradient of Cisnadioara in their legs during the final climb.
10 kilometers after the first climb, the peloton will reach the first intermediate sprint checkpoint along the route in the town of Cisnadie.
The second climb of the day will come at the 44 km mark in Sacadate, before riders reach the second intermediate sprint checkpoint 21 kilometers later in Nocrich.
The next 70 kilometers after Nocrich will be relatively flat, and teams will undoubtedly be looking to stay relaxed and position themselves well for the final climb.
After passing the climb at Vard and the final intermediate sprint in Cartisoara, the riders will approach Balea Lac 136 kilometers into the race.
Balea Lac boasts a frightening profile, and the riders must climb for 23.6 kilometers at an average gradient of 6.1%. Riders will be fighting on max gradients of 9.2%, and will top out at the summit of Balea Lac, which sits over 2000 meters above sea level.
Team Illuminate will likely be looking to support general classification leader Edwin Avila on Stage 2. Avila put in a tough effort on Stage 1, and his team will want to do whatever possible to keep their rider in the yellow leaders jersey. Avila put his climbing abilities on display during Stage 1, and should look to be at the front during the climb up Balea Lac.
Androni Giacattoli-Sidermec riders Andrea Palini and Luca Pacioni currently sit in 2nd and 4th in the general classification, respectively, and will be looking to close the overall time gap on Avila after Stage 2. Both Palini and Pacioni have displayed their talents in the Prologue time trial and the mountains of Stage 1. Stage 2 will be critical for the Italian riders' general classification ambitions.
CCC Sprandi Polkowice rider Maciej Paterski is another rider to watch out for on Stage 2. Paterski is a proven veteran and capable mountains rider. Paterski currently sits in 9th place in the general classification standings, and is less than a minute back of Edwin Avila. Paterski was able to capture mountains classification points at the Giro d'Italia earlier this year, and will be looking to attack towards the top of Balea Lac on Stage 2.
Other riders to keep an eye on during Stage 2 of the Sibiu Cycling Tour include Eduardo Alzate (Unitedhealthcare), Daniel Crista (Christina Jewelry-Kuma), and Colin Stussi (Roth-Akros).
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