Following Visma-Lease a Bike’s crosswind assault on stage 1 of the Tour de France, which noticed Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar (UAE Workforce Emirates-XRG) achieve time on their rivals, extra GC motion is anticipated on stage 2 to Boulogne-sur-Mer, with extra time gaps and losses potential.
The ultimate 30km consists of three brief however steep categorised climbs and an uphill kick to the end, making it a puncheur’s dream. The way in which the Tour is raced in fashionable instances might additionally deliver each Vingegaard and Pogačar to the fore as they combat for each second.
Pogačar’s group weren’t excellent on the opener however Tim Wellens’ firm was sufficient to see the world champion safely by means of to the road in Lille. Visma-Lease a Bike hit out first on stage 1, so a riposte from the Slovenian can certainly be anticipated quickly and his group aren’t ruling it out.
“Stage 2 is extra for the puncheur. It is a five-minute most effort,” UAE Workforce Emirates-XRG sports activities supervisor Joxean Fernández Matxin informed Cyclingnews after stage 1.
“It is a day for Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Julian Alaphilippe, Marc Hirshi (Tudor), Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike)… And naturally Tadej.”
Van der Poel ought to actually be up there with however Van Aert could also be on responsibility to assist and shield Vingegaard ought to Pogačar try and blast away on the steep pinches.
Eventually season’s Tour, Pogačar took 4 days so as to add a stage victory to his haul, with 17 now to his identify at simply 26. His first win of the 2025 Tour might come as early as stage 2, with gradients above 10% within the remaining providing up sufficient street for him to make the distinction.
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Visma-Lease a Bike shall be attentive, realizing that they might have poked the bear within the crosswinds on day 1, however Vingegaard’s energy within the echelons and love for racing ought to preserve them in good standing to compete nonetheless.
“Stage 2 is actually a tough one, and it is someplace in between for the puncheur and the GC guys,” Head of Racing Grischa Niermann informed Cyclingnews on Saturday afternoon.
“It can even be difficult, possibly with some rain, plenty of wind, and totally different temperatures than we had the final days and weeks. It will be thrilling.”
Are Visma-Lease a Bike particularly anticipating the rainbow jersey to burst into life?
“Presumably, we’ll see,” Niermann mentioned, with the rivalry between the 2 tremendous groups threatening to bubble over as their superstars eye a fourth or third yellow jersey, respectively.
“The rivalry makes each groups higher, as a result of we now have to be at our best possible to combat UAE, and I feel it is also the opposite manner spherical,” added Niermann.
“Particularly after his defeat in 2023, Pogačar and likewise the entire group made huge steps, they usually have a brilliant, tremendous robust squad. We’re up there to combat in opposition to them.”
As was the case on stage 1, for these attempting to remain in rivalry, it is about following the Dane and Slovenian that may breed final success.
GC outsiders will worry the fast run to the ultimate few climbs, however time gaps, albeit small ones, are anticipated.
“I personally assume we’ll be speaking about small time losses. However not a lot time can also be vital,” Ineos Grenadiers DS Zak Dempster informed Cyclingnews and Biking Weekly earlier than stage 1.
“I might think about that simply the stress of these guys attempting to remain protected will create some type of cut up, and somebody will fall off GC or lose time.”
The British group shall be taking a look at house champion Sam Watson or former U23 world champion Axel Laurance to ramp issues up on the punchy remaining, with their GC chief Carlos Rodríguez additionally trying to not lose extra time, after lacking Saturday’s entrance echelon and shedding 39 seconds.
“Sam Watson has received on comparable climbs earlier than. That remaining relies on how that battle performs out with the rain, too. There’s rain forecast, which is able to create much more stress,” added Dempster.
“Each Axel and Sam, they’re able to a very good outcome, however on the identical time, you’ve got obtained Van der Poel right here and Pogačar, possibly they’re the higher guys on paper, however you by no means know the way it might play out.”
With a number of of the massive favourites like Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) and Primož Roglič (Purple Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) shedding time to inattentiveness when Visma lit issues up, the combat for the underside of the ultimate climbs on stage 2 ought to deliver extra chaos, and with it, the very greatest riders into motion.
Evenepoel will definitely need to strike again, whereas the climbs will additional reveal Roglič’s true GC possibilities.
Having made it into the entrance group as Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) sprinted to the win, ought to one in every of Pogačar or Vingegaard win the stage, the yellow jersey is also on the road.
Stage 2 shall be one other high-stakes GC day on the Tour de France.
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