Stage 2: Post-race quotes:
Stage 2 winner and race leader Jakub Mareczko: “Today we’ve felt the heat and it was a very long stage with more than 230km. We wanted to control the race so in the whole first part, we put Luca Raggio at the front of the peloton. In the finale, all my team-mates have worked hard to catch the breakaway. It hasn’t been easy and we’ve arrived a bit cooked. Luckily [Eugert] Zhupa took me to the front at the right moment. I launched my sprint from far out because I didn’t want to risk to get stuck in the traffic. I’m happy with the win and the yellow jersey but let’s hope it’s only the first victory at the Tour of Hainan.”
Second placed Martin Laas: “I came to the Tour of Hainan with the hope of getting good results because I’m a sprinter and this race means five or six opportunities to try and win a stage. We have two or three very fast guys in the team. Every day we figure out who is in a better condition to decide who will sprint and who will do the work. Today we went for me and it was successful. Second is a good result. But I think I’m able to beat Mareczko in a sprint. I’ll have other chances to challenge him.”
Third placed Dylan Page: “Third is a good result but I have to finish this season the best I can. I feel good. I already got two top 10 last week in a WorldTour race [the Tour of Guangxi]. I came here with ambitions and a good team at a good level but accessible for me. By the end of the race, I target a stage win. It’s different to race with the Swiss national team mostly composed of u23 riders but it’s a pleasure to race with young riders. They’re motivated and ready to help and give everything for me. Yesterday it went pretty well for a first time and we bettered things today. Lukas Spengler did a great job in the finale but I was a bit behind. After 230km, the legs don’t respond as well as we want but it wasn’t too bad. But with more than 80 racing days in my legs this year, I probably have an advantage over most of the riders here.”
Most combative rider Lukas Meiler: “It was difficult to race at the front today with a lot of head wind, cross wind and the long distance. Normally, it was impossible for a breakaway to succeed but we tried. The pack caught us with more than 100km to go. It was strangely early but some of the riders in the front group stopped their effort after the intermediate sprint. I’m happy because all I could get from this breakaway is the most combative rider price and I got it.”
King of the Mountains Vitaly Buts: “It was a day without any KOM but a long day with 230km. But we worked together with Wilier Triestina to deliver a bunch sprint finish for Andriy Kulik who finished fifth, which is encouraging for him. We want to do better. Tomorrow, there’ll be a KOM and we’ll go for it because we want the jersey for our team.”
Best Asian rider Ma Guangtong: “Our sport director Li Fuyu wasn’t happy with our performance yesterday so we had to make the breakaway today. I’m glad I did it to take the blue jersey. After I won the China Games, I remained very focused for the Tour of Hainan. I won the KOM competition here last year and I always want to do well in this race.”
