PARIS: German sprinter Andre Greipel won stage two of the Tour of Benelux on Tuesday, a 180.7 km loop around the Dutch city of Breda.

The Lotto-Soudal rider — who finished fourth in Monday’s opening stage — edged out Italian Jacopo Guarnieri (Katusha) and Etixx-Quick-Step’s Belgian rider Tom Boonen.

Greipel, who excelled in the Tour de France, winning four stages, including the finale on the Champs-Elysees, came out on top in a bunch sprint finish to go second in the overall standings.

Dutch rider Jesper Asselman of Team Roompot Oranje has a five second advantage over the German at the top of the general classification after accumulating time bonuses.

The 25-year-old made an early escape alongside Belgian cyclist Gijs Van Hoecke and picked up the maximum bonuses afforded on the “golden kilometer” which means he’ll wear the leader’s white jersey on stage three.

Asselman was caught with 15 kilometers to go but had already done enough to secure the overall lead.

Wednesday’s stage three is a 171.9 km ride from Beveren to Ardooie in Belgium

Results of the second stage of the Tour of Benelux, a 180.7 km ride around Breda (Netherlands) on Tuesday:

1. Andre Greipel (GER/LOT) 180.7 km in 4hr 30min 52sec, 2. Jacopo Guarnieri (ITA/KAT) same time, 3. Tom Boonen (BEL/ETI) s.t., 4. Jempy Drücker (LUX/BMC) s.t., 5. Danny van Poppel (NED/TRE) s.t., 6. Arnaud Demare (FRA/FDJ) s.t., 7. Vyacheslav Kuznetsov (RUS/KAT) s.t., 8. Roy Jans (BEL/AJW) s.t., 9. Sebastien Turgot (FRA/ALM) s.t., 10. Sacha Modolo (ITA/LAM) s.t.

Overall standings

1. Jesper Asselman (NED/ROP) 8hr 18min 55sec, 2. André Greipel (GER/LOT) at 0:05, 3. Elia Viviani (ITA/SKY) same time, 4. Danny van Poppel (NED/TRE) at 0:09, 5. Jacopo Guarnieri (ITA/KAT) s.t., 6. Gijs Van Hoecke (BEL/TSV) s.t., 7. Laurens De Vreese (BEL/AST) 0:10, 8. Nico Denz (GER/ALM) s.t., 9. Jempy Drücker (LUX/BMC) 0:11, 10. Tom Boonen (BEL/ETI) m.t.