Defending champ Tony Martin takes over lead in Tour of Beijing

Tony Martin takes over the Tour of Beijing lead after winning stage two.

Zhang Yu/ZUMAPress.com

BEIJING (AP) -- Defending champion Tony Martin took the overall lead in the Tour of Beijing after winning the second stage with a powerful solo finish Wednesday.

The Omega Pharma-Quickstep rider won the 78.3-mile stage after breaking away from a lead group on the descent following the final climb. The time trial world champion from Germany held off the chasing pack to finish in 2 hours, 37.49 seconds in a stage that started near the Bird's Nest Stadium, the iconic 2008 Olympics venue.

Astana's Francesco Gavazzi and Ero Capecchi of Liuigas were second and third, 46 seconds back. Martin is 50 seconds clear of Gavazzi in the general classification of the five-stage race.

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