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Dutchman Kai Reus produced a stunning ride to claim an emotional victory in the second stage of the Tour of Britain.

The 24-year old former junior world champion suffered severe head injuries after a crash in 2007 and was close to tears as he crossed the line in Newcastle to complete his first stage victory since the accident.

The Rabobank rider made a break after just 42.4km, along with Tanel Kangert and Thomas De Gendt before shaking them off in the closing stages of the 153.3km route.

Reus crossed the line nine seconds ahead of Joker Bianchi's Alexander Kristoff with Team Columbia's Edvald Boasson Hagen back in third.

Reus will now wear the yellow jersey on the third stage from Peebles to Gretna Green with Chris Sutton, the winner of the first stage, and Kristoff hot on his tail.

"Can I defend the jersey? We'll see," said Reus.

"Things are going to get really tough around stages six and seven and I'm feeling my legs already but we'll see what happens.

"It feels fantastic to get this win though it's my first for two years but I've put that in the past now.

"Once we'd broken away by two minutes I knew I had a great chance of winning so I attacked as hard as I could.

"The last 10km was pretty brutal and I'm shattered now but it feels great to have the yellow jersey."

De Gendt's involvement in the break helped him take the King of the Mountains and sprints jerseys with Barloworld's Michel Merlo leading the points competition.

Veteran Malcolm Elliott was the first Brit to cross the line in seventh but Russell Downing is still handily placed in the general classification in sixth, 25 seconds behind Reus.

Home favourites Geraint Thomas, Steve Cummings, Dan Fleeman, Graham Briggs and Andrew Tennant attempted an early break but they were never able to open up a gap of more than two minutes and were easily chased down.

It took until the second mountains stage for a genuine break away to occur when Reus, Kangert and De Gendt broke from the peleton.

By the third mountains stage at High Barns they had stretched the gap to more than five minutes but after 100km Barloworld sent out Mauricio Soler and Chris Froome to eat into their lead.

They dragged several other riders along with them but Reus refused to panic as he took the third sprint stage.

He was followed closely by Topsport Vlaanderen's De Gendt, who did enough to claim the sprint jersey for the second day in a row and also the polka-dot jersey.

The lead was cut to just over two minutes at Seaton Sluice and once again a bunch finish looked on the cards.

Kangert was caught as the race reached the North East coast but Reus and De Gendt continued to work well and maintain their couple of minutes advantage before Reus made his decisive dash 15km from home.

Monday's third stage sees the riders visit the Scottish Borders for the first time as they travel the 153.8km between Peebles and Gretna Green.

More Than The Games / Eurosport