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Wales’ Stephen Williams outsprinted Julian Alaphilippe to win stage two of the Tour of Britain in Redcar and claim the overall lead.<\/b><\/p>\n
Israel\u2013Premier Tech rider Williams held off France’s two-time world road race champion Alaphilippe and Britain’s Oscar Onley as a three-man breakaway contested the finish to the 152.1km stage from Darlington.<\/p>\n
Britain’s Joseph Blackmore finished fourth, at the front of a chasing group also containing Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel, 21 seconds down on Williams.<\/p>\n
Williams, 28, now leads the general classification by six seconds over Onley, with Alaphilippe in third, a further 10 seconds back.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really good to get my hands in the air,” said Williams. “It was a really tough day out.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe aim now is to try and hold onto the jersey – it\u2019s not the easiest job in the world. We have a strong team so hopefully everything goes right on the road.”<\/p>\n
Stage one winner and overnight leader Paul Magnier<\/a> finished ninth, one minute 27 seconds down on Williams, and is now ninth overall.<\/p>\n Thursday’s stage three is a 166.1km hilly route from Sheffield to Barnsley.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n