Driedaagse de Panne Stage 2: Renshaw Top 10 on Local Circuit

Etixx - Quick-Step rider Mark Renshaw moved up hoping to contest the bunch arrival as the race came back together with 2.9km remaining on the last of three local circuits in 217.2km Driedaagse De Panne - Koksijde Stage 2 on Wednesday. But the Australian finished 8th as Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) launched in the best position of the group, winning his second consecutive stage and extending his GC leadership.

Elia Viviani (Team Sky) was 2nd, and Shane Archbold (Bora-Argon18) was 3rd.

A 12-rider breakaway was down to only Martin Mortensen (Cult Energy Pro Cycling) with 18.5km to go, but Dennis Coenen (Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace) and Alessandro Malaguti (Nippo Vini Fantini) bridged to the solo rider out front and they maintained an 11" advantage going into 4.4 to go in the stage before they were brought back by the peloton.

Guillaume Van Keirsbulck, defending winner of the race, was part of a brief chase group with 43km to go, but the peloton shut down the move.

Etixx - Quick-Step looks to the final day of Driedaagse De Panne tomorrow, including 111.4km Stage 3a and 14.2km Stage 3b. The time trial, while short in distance, may be affected by a seaside breeze and some technical sections, including several out-and-backs and roundabouts.