Tour de France 2014: Vincenzo Nibali wins stage two in Yorkshire

Italian champion Vincenzo Nibali attacked late to win stage two of the Tour de France from York to Sheffield.

The Astana rider broke clear of a group including Britain's defending champion Chris Froome and double winner Alberto Contador, who came in two seconds back.

Nibali took over the leader's yellow jersey from stage one winner Marcel Kittel, who finished 20 minutes adrift.

Estimates suggest more than 2.5 million people lined the route in Yorkshire for the first two stages over the weekend.

Britain's Mark Cavendish was ruled out of the Tour before the start of stage two after his crash on the opening day.

Belgian Greg van Avermaet finished second with Michal Kwiatkowski of Poland third, in the bunch two seconds behind Nibali.

Spain's Contador was 13th and Froome 19th, with the Briton moving to fifth overall after his sixth-placed finish in Harrogate on day one and Contador on the same time in eighth.

The route passed through Harrogate, Keighley, and Huddersfield before reaching Sheffield, taking in areas made famous by the Bronte sisters and TV series Last Of The Summer Wine.

The third stage will take the riders from Cambridge to London on Monday, before the race heads to France.

On Sunday around 60,000 fans lined the road on Holme Moss, the longest and toughest of the stage's nine categorised ascents, and there were thousands more on each of the other eight.

"It was really tough racing and the crowds were just incredible. I had goosebumps going up Holme Moss, said Froome, who was cheered on by many fans in Yorkshire.

"It was all about staying out of trouble and avoiding any major issues or big splits."

Thousands of fans cheered the riders up Bradfield Pass in stage two

With five of the stage's climbs packed into the final 60km, there was always going to be a cagey opening and a break of seven riders was allowed to establish a two-minute lead from the off.

Blel Kadri, the lone man left from the seven that broke clear in the opening kilometre, had the honour of reaching the summit of Holme Moss first but he was caught on the next climb at Midhopestones and the race opened up.

Team Sky's Geraint Thomas moved to the front of the peloton, trying to keep Froome out of trouble, but he was a little unhappy with some spectators on the route, describing the ones taking 'selfies' as "a pain" as they were not only putting themselves in danger, but the riders as well.

Indeed there were incidents where riders had to push over-enthusiastic fans to the side, although given the vast numbers, those instances were few.

The final climb, Jenkin Road in Sheffield, produced the most drama as many riders struggled with the steepness of the 800m ascent, which reached a gradient of 33% in places.

Froome delivered a small psychological blow, though, when he raced clear of rivals Contador and Nibali to reach the top first.

Stage two winner Vincenzo Nibali was recently crowned Italian national champion

Peter Sagan attempted to break everyone on the descent but his efforts were wasted and he then had no answer as Nibali, who won the 2013 Giro d'Italia, surged clear in the final couple of kilometres to become the first Italian to wear the yellow jersey since 2009.

"My main goal is to get a good result at the end of the Tour de France," said Nibali, who has now led all three Grand Tours.

"I don't want to lose my head but I'm delighted to get the yellow jersey after having won the red jersey at the Vuelta a Espana and the pink jersey at the Giro d'Italia.

"This victory is important for me, the team and Italy."

Despite enduring a difficult day, German sprinter Kittel will chase a sixth Tour stage win on Monday.

Stage two result:

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Astana) 5hrs 8mins 36secs

2. Greg van Avermaet (Bel/BMC Racing) +2secs

3. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol/Omega Pharma-Quick-Step) - same time

4. Peter Sagan (Svk/Cannondale)

5. Tony Gallopin (Fra/Lotto)

6. Michael Albasini (Swi/Orica)

7. Andrew Talansky (US/Garmin)

8. Bauke Mollema (Ned/Belkin)

9. Tejay van Garderen (US/BMC Racing)

10. Romain Bardet (Fra/AG2R)

Selected:

19. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) +2secs

23. Geraint Thomas (GB/Team Sky) +16secs

31. Nicolas Roche (Ire/Tinkoff-Saxo) same time

68. Simon Yates (GB/Orica) +4mins 34secs

Overall classification:

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Astana) 9hrs 52mins 43secs

2. Peter Sagan (Svk/Cannondale) +2secs

3. Greg van Avermaet (Bel/BMC Racing)

4. Michael Albasini (Swi/Orica)

5. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky)

6. Bauke Mollema (Ned/Belkin)

7. Jurgen van den Broeck (Bel/Lotto)

8. Alberto Contador (Spa/Tinkoff-Saxo)

9. Tejay van Garderen (US/BMC Racing)

10. Jakob Fuglsang (Den/Astana)

Selected:

22. Geraint Thomas (GB/Team Sky) +16secs

26. Nicolas Roche (Ire/Tinkoff-Saxo) same time

68. Simon Yates (GB/Orica) +4mins 34secs