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Tadej Pogačar seizes the yellow jersey on Tour de France Stage 2

Pogačar, Vingegaard and Evenepoel distance Roglič

June 30, 2024
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If you wondered if we were going to get another Tadej Pogačar vs Jonas Vingegaard battle at the 111th Tour de France, Sunday’s second stage affirmed it. But add Remco Evenepoel to that shortlist. After an attack with Vingegaard that Evenepoel caught at the last second, Pogačar grabbed the yellow jersey from Romain Bardet. On his Tour debut Arkea-B & B Hotels’ Kévin Vauquelin gave France its second victory in a row. Hugo Houle was in the day’s breakaway and placed ninth.

Pogačar, Vingegaard, Evenepoel and Richard Carapaz are all on the same time. Egan Bernal, Tom Pidcock, Carlos Rodriguez, Primoz Roglič, Enric Mas, Mikel Landa, Adam and Simon Yates and João Almeida are all +0:21. Derek Gee is 28th, +1:22.

The Course

It would be a tough ask for Day 2 in Italy to match Saturday’s Grand Départ for sheer excitement as DSM’s tactical masterclass paid off with a one-two and a yellow jersey.

Only slightly shorter than Stage 1, the second stage headed west after a transfer to Cesenatico. The climbs were also shorter than Saturday’s but steeper, the first arriving at Kilometre 74. With 35 km to go, the riders would enter the first of two finishing circuits around Bologna, both containing Côte de San Luca, almost 2 km of 10.2 percent. The final 5 km were flat. It was another hot day.

Polka-dot clad Norwegian Jonas Abrahamsen had a slim KOM lead over 2023 French champion Valentin Madouas. Would they come out to play on Stage 2? The former did, but the latter didn’t make the cut of the 11-strong breakaway. Canada’s Hugo Houle fought his way in, and he was second over the top of the first climb. Abrahamsen added to his lead on Côte de Monticino and Côte de Gallisterna.

Houle at the midway point of Sunday’s stage.

The race navigated through the famous Imola F1 autodrome.

The peloton negotiates the chicane at Imola.

A crash soon after the intermediate sprint put Wout van Aert on the deck, but the Belgian remounted quickly and gave the camera a thumbs up.

With 74 km remaining, the Houle-Abrahamsen gang was 7:40 ahead of the field. It could go either way. Four kilometers later, the gap was 9:00. Advantage fugitives.

By the time it reached the first circuit, the breakaway’s lead had plummeted to 4:45, as Lotto-Dstny led the yellow jersey group. Again, a fine balance.

Côte de San Luca I

Michael Woods owned the KOM of the Côte de San Luca at 5:35. His teammate Houle popped early, but the Canadian came back. Axel Laurence attacked and created a selection. Abrahamsen clambered over to the Laurence group and took the maximum KOM points.

Back in the peloton, Visma-LAB led onto the narrow slopes. The pace was decent, but no inroads were made into the breakaway’s 3:30 gap.

There was a regrouping of the Houle-Abrahamsen gang as it descended and headed to the second circuit.

Derek Gee and teammate Stevie Williams at the front of the peloton on the first circuit.

Abrahamsen, Vauquelin and Nelson Oliveira pushed clear of the others and heard the bell 15 seconds ahead of Houle and the others.

Côte de San Luca II

Vauquelin tried to unhitch Ambrahamsen and Oliveira. The Frenchman reached the top 43 seconds ahead of the man in the polka dots.

Again, Visma-LAB led onto the climb. Geraint Thomas was dropped. Adam Yates took over the group. Bardet, Roglič and Pidcock all fell back. Pogačar attacked and Vingegaard went with him. The two pulled out 40 seconds over Roglič and Evenepoel. Evenepoel and Richard Carapaz bridged over just before the line and Remco crossed just in front of Pogačar.

There was no denying Vauquelin his famous win. Abrahamsen was second place, picking up the points jersey as well.


2024 Tour de France Stage 2
1) Kévin Vauquelin (France/Arkea-B & B Hotel) 4:43:42
2) Jonas Abrahamsen (Norway/Uno-X) +0:36
3) Quentin Pacher (France/Groupama-FDJ) +0:49
9) Hugo Houle (Canada/Israel-Premier Tech) +1:36
38) Derek Gee (Canada/Israel-Premier Tech) +3:43
93) Guillaume Boivin (Canada/Israel-Premier Tech) +18:11

2024 Tour de France GC
1) Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia/UAE-Emirates) 9:53:30
2) Remco Evenepoel (Belgium/Soudal-QuickStep) s.t.
3) Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark/Visma-LAB) s.t.
28) Derek Gee (Canada/Israel-Premier Tech) +1:22

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