Tour de France Stage Report: Stage 2 was one other scorching day in Italy for the 2024 Tour de France. A Frenchman took the stage honours once more, this it was Kevin Vauquelin of Arkéa-B&B Resorts. There was motion behind the winner as Tadej Pogačar (UAE Crew Emirates) attacked on the ultimate climb to San Luca and was adopted by Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike). Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Fast-Step) managed to hitch them because the Slovenian went into the general lead.
Final Okay of stage 2
Kévin Vauquelin received the second stage of the Tour de France. The Frenchman was half of a giant main group and rode away from his final fellow escapees on the San Luca. Tadej Pogačar, who attacked and finally crossed the road along with Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Richard Carapaz, took the yellow from Romain Bardet.
BIG win for Kévin Vauquelin
Christian Prudhomme, Tour de France common director: “The passage throughout the Emilia-Romagna area is easy sufficient to start with because it takes the peloton to Imola and its well-known motor racing circuit. The ultimate a part of the stage, that includes the climb to the Sanctuary of San Luca (1.9km at 10.6%), the normal finale of the Giro dell’Emilia, which shall be tackled twice within the last 40km, affords fertile terrain for the peloton’s puncheurs.”
Stage 2 profile
With Romain Bardet within the yellow jersey, the Tour began the 200 kilometre stage 2. A number of escape makes an attempt got here instantly after the flag dropped. Mathieu van der Poel additionally tried, however the peloton didn’t let that occur. Quickly after an 11 man group managed to remain away: Mike Teunissen (Intermarché-Wanty), Bram Welten (dsm-firmenich PostNL), Axel Laurance (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Quentin Pacher (Groupama-FDJ), Hugo Houle (Israel-Premier Tech), Nelson Oliveira (Movistar), Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies), Kévin Vauquelin & Cristian Rodriguez (Arkéa-B&B Resorts), Harold Tejada (Astana Qazaqstan) and KOM, Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) had been all there.
A contented Romain Bardet in the beginning in Cesenatico
Patrick Lefevere and father and son Van der Poel (Adri and Mathieu)
Michael Matthews and Brent Van Moer tried to cross, however received caught in between. They finally dropped again to the bunch, this gave the break extra of an opportunity. The very best positioned general within the break had been Tejada and Abrahamsen, and so they had been quarter-hour behind Bardet. The break didn’t pose any hazard. The lead elevated to nearly 9 minutes.
Remco Evenepoel’s spouse, Rayane Oumaima was in the beginning in Cesenatico
The jerseys in the beginning: Frank van Den Broek, Jonas Abrahamsen and Romain Bardet Romain
On the primary climb of the day, the Côte de Monticino, Welten was dropped. Abrahamsen was first excessive and so the Norwegian strengthened his lead within the KOM classification. Behind; the peloton lifted the pace. This brought about the escapees to lose a few of their lead and put Mark Cavendish and Fabio Jakobsen in bother. They had been in a position to return to the peloton, however had been dropped once more later. Jakobsen was specifically bother.
The peloton leaves through the Porto canale Leonardesco Cesenatico for 199.2 kilometres to Bologna
Within the main group, Abrahamsen was the primary over the Côte de Gallisterna and Côte de Botteghino di Zocca. He was additionally first within the intermediate dash, the place there was a crash within the peloton. Wout van Aert, Matteo Jorgenson and Laurens De Plus crashed in the back of the bunch. They had been all in a position to proceed, however all had abrasions. Because of the crash the peloton slowed down, which let the escapees lengthen its lead. The ten had greater than 9 minutes once more.
The primary of many sunflower pictures from this 12 months’s Tour de France
In the beginning of the Côte de Montecalvo (2.8km at 7.6%), 50 kilometres from the end, the lead of the ten had fallen again to six minutes and on the climb, the distinction shrank additional, as Victor Campenaerts accelerated on the entrance of the peloton. It was too quick for a lot of riders, together with World champion, Mathieu van der Poel. On the entrance, Abrahamsen took 2 extra factors for the mountains classification.
KOM, Jonas Abrahamsen made it into the break once more
Campenaerts lowered the distinction to the escapees to 4 minutes on the foot of the San Luca for the primary time. Axel Laurance attacked from the break and solely Rodriguez, Pacher, Tejada, Vauquelin and Abrahamsen had been in a position to comply with. The Norwegian as soon as once more took the KOM factors. They slowed barely and Jegat, Oliviera, Houle and Teunissen had been in a position to return.
Oscar Onley, Nils Eekhoff and Lars Van Den Berg forward of Romain Bardet
Teunissen then attacked on the flat, however Houle closed the hole, after which Oliviera jumped. Solely Vauquelin and Abrahamsen had been in a position to cross. They began the second climb of the San Luca with three males on the entrance. The escapees now knew that they’d in all probability combat for victory, as a result of nothing a lot was taking place within the peloton. Vauquelin attacked on the backside. Oliviera and Abrahamsen couldn’t comply with.
The break had over 8 minutes on the peloton for a lot of the stage
Vauquelin was the primary to cross the highest of the San Luca and stored going. The Frenchman soloed impressively to victory in Bologna. Abrahamsen had dropped again into the chasing group, however he rode away once more for second place. The Norwegian additionally took the inexperienced jersey.
The followers had been out to see the Tour on one other scorching day in Italy
Was there going to be a battle between the favourites? Visma | Lease a Bike had taken the lead on San Luca for the primary time, however this had not led to an acceleration of the tempo, so a comparatively massive group got here excessive. On the way in which to San Luca for the second time, when it was clear that the escapees would have the victory, Ben Healy, Alexey Lutsenko and Odd Christian Eiking tried to get away, however Warren Barguil jumped in to defend Romain Bardet’s yellow jersey.
Typical Tuscan buildings
The 4 began the San Luca with a lead. On the second ascent Visma | Lease a Bike had the initiative once more and this time it was rather a lot quicker. After a powerful efficiency by Tiesj Benoot, there was no follow-up. Adam Yates then took over. The British rider stored the tempo excessive, forcing yellow jersey wearer Romain Bardet to let go. Tadej Pogačar attacked in the direction of the highest. Jonas Vingegaard was alert and was instantly on his wheel. The opposite favourites may do nothing, however Vingegaard by no means seemed to be in bother.
The peloton rode on the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari – Imola
The peloton began to hurry up once they hit the climb of San Luca
The 2 pushed on collectively and took a giant lead on the chasers. As soon as down the opposite facet, that they had 45 seconds on the group behind with Romain Bardet and Primoz Roglič.. Remco Evenepoel and Richard Carapaz had been chasing at about 15 seconds from Vingegaard and Pogačar. The Slovenian was placing rather a lot stress on the Dane. The Visma | Lease a Bike rider needed to make a giant effort on the descent a number of occasions. Evenepoel and Carapaz joined within the last kilometre.
Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-B&B Resorts) put in a giant assault from the break
KOM, Jonas Abrahamsen tried to comply with
The yellow jersey went to Pogačar, although he didn’t dash. The Slovenian is on the identical time as Evenepoel, Vingegaard and Carapaz, however he will get the jersey on the outcomes rely again.
Vauquelin solo for the stage win
Pogačar attacked and Vingegaard managed to go together with him
Stage winner, Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Resorts): “That is loopy. I had two weeks of disappointment, in Switzerland and the French championships. I’ve to thank Cristian Rodriguez. He put in fairly just a few pulls to animate the breakaway, after which managed every part for me. Very robust. A giant thanks. I felt on the climb earlier than, after rising the tempo that I may even speed up extra myself, even when it was nonetheless too distant, so I made a decision to attend. Afterwards I adopted the transfer of Oliveira and Abrahamsen, understanding that on the climb I used to be higher than them and I used to be. I used to be in a position to get away and it was excellent. I used to be asking in regards to the gaps on a regular basis. I began to understand the victory very late. I knew they may trip very onerous behind, so I used to be cautious. Thankfully my driving high quality was there and I used to be in a position to end the job. It was very cool.”
Shock winner – Kévin Vauquelin
Total chief, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Crew Emirates): “A superb day? Properly, so-so. At this time, when the break went, we knew that they had probability of creating it to the end. Within the last circuit I felt tremendous good and the tempo was tremendous excessive already the primary time up San Luca due to how the Visma group pulled. Then, the second time, we determined to strive so I may take a look at myself a bit. Jonas Vingegaard was actually shortly on my wheel. I’m not shocked by his degree. We cooperated nicely collectively, however Remco and Richard did it too and got here again to our wheel on the very finish. The entire circuit in Bologna was tremendous crowded, and the climb was insane! Actually unbelievable. It’s the biking we should always all love. Am I going to maintain the yellow jersey for lengthy? Properly, I want to take it day-to-day and stick with the unique plan…”
Tadej Pogačar takes the general lead after stage 2 – Sound acquainted
# Get all of the Tour information and rider quotes in EUROTRASH Monday. #
Tour de France Stage 2 End result:
1. Kévin Vauquelin (Fra) Arkéa-B&B Resorts in 4:50:08
2. Jonas Abrahamsen (Nor) Uno-X Mobility at 0:36
3. Quentin Pacher (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 0:49
4. Cristian Rodriguez (Pan) Arkéa-B&B Resorts
5. Harold Alfonso Tejada Canacue (Col) Astana Qazaqstan
6. Nelson Oliveira (Por) Movistar at 0:50
7. Axel Laurance (Fra) Alpecin-Deceuninck at 1:12
8. Mike Teunissen (Ned) Intermarché-Wanty at 1:33
9. Hugo Houle (Can) Israel-Premier Tech at 1:36
10. Richard Carapaz EF (Eu) Training-EasyPost at 2:21
Tour de France Total After Stage 2:
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Crew Emirates in 9:53:30
2. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Soudal Fast-Step
3. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Visma | Lease a Bike
4. Richard Carapaz (Eu) EF Training-EasyPost
5. Romain Bardet (Fra) dsm-firmenich-PostNL at 0:06
6. Maxim Van Gils (Bel) Lotto Dstny at 0:021
7. Egan Arley Bernal Gomez (Col) INEOS Grenadiers
8. Pello Bilbao Lopez de Armentia (Spa) Bahrain Victorious
9. Tom Pidcock (GB) INEOS Grenadiers
10. Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Lidl-Trek.
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