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 predicted on stage 2 to Boulogne-sur-Mer, with extra time gaps and losses attainable.
The ultimate 30km consists of three quick however steep categorised climbs and an uphill kick to the end, making it a puncheur’s dream. The best way the Tour is raced in fashionable instances might additionally convey each Vingegaard and Pogačar to the fore as they struggle for each second.
Pogačar’s staff weren’t good on the opener however Tim Wellens’ firm was sufficient to see the world champion safely by way of to the road in Lille. Visma-Lease a Bike hit out first on stage 1, so a riposte from the Slovenian can absolutely be anticipated quickly and his staff aren’t ruling it out.
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“Stage 2 is extra for the puncheur. It is a five-minute most effort,” UAE Workforce Emirates-XRG sports activities supervisor Joxean Fernández Matxin advised 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 to blast away on the steep pinches.
Finally 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 last providing up sufficient street for him to make the distinction.
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Visma-Lease a Bike might be attentive, figuring out 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 advised Cyclingnews on Saturday afternoon.
“It’ll even be tough, perhaps with some rain, loads of wind, and completely different temperatures than we had the final days and weeks. It should be thrilling.”
Are Visma-Lease a Bike particularly anticipating the rainbow jersey to burst into life?
“Probably, 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 struggle UAE, and I believe it is also the opposite method spherical,” added Niermann.
“Particularly after his defeat in 2023, Pogačar and in addition the entire staff made huge steps, they usually have an excellent, tremendous sturdy squad. We’re up there to struggle towards them.”
As was the case on stage 1, for these making an attempt to remain in rivalry, it is about following the Dane and Slovenian that may breed final success.
GC outsiders will concern 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 important,” Ineos Grenadiers DS Zak Dempster advised Cyclingnews and Biking Weekly earlier than stage 1.
“I’d think about that simply the stress of these guys making an attempt to remain secure will create some kind of break up, and somebody will fall off GC or lose time.”
The British staff might be taking a look at dwelling champion Sam Watson or former U23 world champion Axel Laurance to ramp issues up on the punchy last, with their GC chief Carlos Rodríguez additionally trying to not lose extra time, after lacking Saturday’s entrance echelon and dropping 39 seconds.
“Sam Watson has received on comparable climbs earlier than. That last is determined by how that battle performs out with the rain, too. There’s rain forecast, which can create much more stress,” added Dempster.
“Each Axel and Sam, they’re able to a superb consequence, however on the similar time, you have obtained Van der Poel right here and Pogačar, perhaps 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 large favourites like Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) and Primož Roglič (Purple Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) dropping time to inattentiveness when Visma lit issues up, the struggle for the underside of the ultimate climbs on stage 2 ought to convey extra chaos, and with it, the very largest 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 considered one of Pogačar or Vingegaard win the stage, the yellow jersey is also on the road.
Stage 2 might be one other high-stakes GC day on the Tour de France.
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