Nacer Bouhanni sprinted to victory on stage two of the 2017 Tour de Yorkshire.

The Frenchman was too strong in the bunch finish in Harrogate as Caleb Ewan was second for a second consecutive stage.

Great Britain Cycling Team's Chris Lawless took an impressive fifth.

“The conclusion of today’s stage was hard and steep,” Bouhanni said. “Here in Yorkshire it seems like all the roads are hilly.

“I produced my effort with 400m to go and when Jonathan Hivert kicked I knew I had to react immediately.

“This is my fourth win of the season and it gives me confidence because the Tour de Yorkshire is my first race after a brief break. There were so many people on the road today it felt like the Tour de France.”

Yorkshiremen Connor Swift (Madison Genesis), James Gullen (JLT Condor) and Harry Tanfield (Bike Channel Canyon) all featured in a four-man breakaway that enlivened proceedings early in the 122.5km stage starting in Tadcaster.

But all four escapees were caught before a fast finish ensued in Harrogate.

As the sprint specialists raced towards the line Bouhanni latched onto Hivert’s wheel, but as his compatriot faded Bounhanni pressed on to seal his fourth win of the season.

Ewan’s disappointment at a successive second-placed finish was tempered by the fact that he moved into the Welcome to Yorkshire blue leader’s jersey and opened up a two-second lead over Bouhanni and Friday’s victor Dylan Groenewegen (LottNL-Jumbo).

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