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Team Jumbo-Visma's riders celebrate winning the team time-trial in the second stage of Tour de France in Brussels, Belgium, July 7, 2019. /VCG Photo
Dutch outfit Jumbo-Visma stormed to victory in the Tour de France team time-trial on Sunday with Mike Teunissen tightening his grip on the yellow jersey after the 27.6-kilometer second stage around Belgian capital Brussels.
There had been concerns about defending champion Geraint Thomas's form after his fall on Saturday, but his Ineos team were the best of the rest.
Although they trail Teunissen by 30 seconds in the overall standings, Thomas and Colombian teammate Egan Bernal gained time on all their key rivals.
Teunissen extended his overnight lead when his team beat Ineos by 20 seconds on Sunday, with the next five teams all grouped within a handful of seconds.
A photo combo shows riders at the Tour de France second stage, a 27.6km team time-trial in Brussels, Belgium, July 7, 2019. /VCG Photo
Ineos were the first down the ramp and set a pulsating time, holding the lead until Jumbo, last off the blocks, smashed 20 seconds off the British team.
"We did try to win it," said a breathless 33-year-old Thomas.
"It was a pretty decent time," the Welshman added at the finish line by the giant Brussels Atomium, built for the 1958 World Fair.
"I was pretty sore hitting the barriers yesterday, so the good news: I'm totally fine."
Team Jumbo–Visma's Dutch racer Mike Teunissen (2nd, L) retains the yellow jersey at the Tour de France second stage in Brussels, Belgium, July 7, 2019. /VCG Photo
Saturday's surprise winner Teunissen moved further clear of rivals from other teams.
"I barely slept last night," the leader admitted.
"But here we are again, I hope I get more sleep and I think I can keep hold of the jersey again tomorrow," said Teunissen.
"Today all eight of our riders win," said Teunissen, who described having the yellow jersey as "life changing".
Team Jumbo–Visma's Belgian racer Wout van Aert (2nd, L) takes the best young rider's white jersey at the Tour de France second stage in Brussels, Belgium, July 7, 2019. /VCG Photo
In even more good news for Jumbo, break-out star Wout van Aert took the best young rider's white jersey, his latest achievement since his conversion from cyclo-cross.
"It's good for me, good for Belgium and just great for Mike, who is much better than people have been giving him credit for," said the 24-yearold Belgian rider.
Among the teams of the other leading overall contenders, Colombian Nairo Quintana's Movistar were 45sec behind Ineos, while Italian Vincenzo Nibali and his Bahrain lost just 16sec on Thomas.
The small time differences between the main contenders suggest that this will be an open and competitive Tour de France.
Monday's stage takes the Tour into France where a frantic finish could cause fresh chaos with four climbs and four descents near the end of a long 221-kilometer run that may feature disruptive cross winds.
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