Tour de France stage 2 Live – Vauquelin goes solo for stage win with Pogačar and Vingegaard attacking behind

10km to go

Kevin Vauquelin (ARK) has 48″ on his chasers at the front of the race. 

Vingegaard (TVL) does work with Pogačar (UAD) with Evenepoel (SOQ), Roglič (RBH) and the rest nowhere near them. 

Attack!

Tadej Pogačar (UAD)
Jonas Vinegegaard (TVL)

No-one else can follow! Nothing has changed. It is as we were. 

Primož Roglič (RBH) has been distanced in a split. Poor positioning has led to a split. 

Yates (UAD) still leading the way. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have riders there but I can’t see Primož Roglič just yet. 

KoM (San Luca)

1. Kevin Vauquelin (FRA) Arkea-B&B Hotels 2pts
2. Jonas Abrahamsen (NOR) Uno-X Mobility 1pt

Jorgenson (TVL comes up to pace but now Yates (UAD) comes to the front for Pogačar (UAD). 

Dropped

Geraint Thomas (IGD)

Lidl-Trek and Visma-Lease a Bike lead onto the San Luca climb with a lot more pace this time. 

Is it going to be two in a row for France at this year’s race? 

Attack

Kevin Vauquelin (ARK) has just ridden away from Abrahamsen (UXM) and Oliveira (MOV). However, the polka dot jersey is not giving up just yet. However, Vauquelin is looking very good. 

Onto the San Luca for the final time and the leaders have 36″ on the chasers then 4’01” back to the Healy (EFE) group and 4’20” to the peloton. 

Attack in peloton

Odd Christian Eiking (UXM) +15″
Warren Barguil (DFP) +15″
Ben Healy (EFE) +28″
Alexey Lutsenko (AST) +24’50”

French champion, Paul Lapeira (DAT) leads alongside Lidl-Trek and Visma-Lease a Bike as he looks to keep Felix Gall (DAT) safe. 

Up front, the leading trio cross the finish line for the penultimate time. They have 15″ on the chasers now. 

20km to go

The peloton are now +3’38” back on the break that has just split and this new trio already has +9″ gap. 

Oliveira (MOV) is joined by Vauquelin (ARK) and Abrahamsen (UXM) as the chase scrambles behind. 

Attack in break

Mike Teunissen (IWA) but Houle (IPT) was alive to the danger and he’s dragged back.

Immediate counter attack:

Nelson Oliveira (MOV) and he, for now, goes solo. 

DSM-Firmenich-PostNL and Israel-Premier Tech lead the peloton at the moment. 

Meanwhile, at the front, the majority of the break has come back together and Nelson Oliveira (MOV) tries an attack on the descent. 

Dropped

The rider in second on GC, Frank van den Broek (DFP), has just lost touch with the peloton. 

Wout Van Aert (TVL) has just lost contact with the peloton after leading the peloton onto the climb. 

Jorgenson (TVL) now takes up the pacing as Bardet (DFP) is starting to slowly drop down the peloton. 

Tadej Pogačar (UAD) terrifies the life out of some of the peloton as he accelerates to take a bidon. 

Vingegaard (TVL), Evenepoel (SOQ) and Pogačar (UAD) all right at the front. Whereas, Roglič (RBH) is a few wheels back. 

KoM (San Luca)

1. Jonas Abrahamsen (NOR) Uno-X Mobility 2pts
2. Cristian Rodriguez (ESP) Arkea-B&B Hotels 1pts

Abrahamsen (UXM) is back in the front group with just 200m to the top. 

Amazingly , Jonas Abrahamsen (UXM) is not too far away from the leaders as they head close to the top. 

Now the peloton come onto the San Luca led by Visma-Lease a Bike for Jonas Vingegaard who could be looking to show that he is here to be in the fight for yellow. 

Attack

Axel Laurance (ADC) launches and the U23 world champion is flying. But Kevin Vauquelin (ARK) is setting a steady tempo and is coming back across with Tejada (AST), Pacher (GFC) and Rodriguez (ARK). 

Attack

Cristian Rodriguez (ARK) with Tejada (AST), Laurance (ADC), Pacher (GFC), Vauquelin (ARK) and Jegat (TEN) able to follow. The rest are dropped. 

Onto San Luca they go for the first of two times and Jegat (TEN) immediately attacks the break. 

Primož Roglič (RBH) is a little boxed in at the moment as Visma-Lease a Bike and Ineos Grenadiers have control in the peloton with Campenaerts (LTD) is still trying to do his job. 

The San Luca climb is 1.9km long but averages at 10.6% gradients with a max kick of around 20%. 

Decathlon-AG2R come to the front alongside Lotto-DSTNY, Visma-Lease a Bike and Ineos Grenadiers. The pace is absolutely rapid in the peloton. 

The breakaway cross the finish line for the first time of three. We are in Bologna and the race is heading to the brutal slopes of San Luca! Here we go. 

Campenaerts (LTD) is still propped on the front with Evenepoel (SOQ) now locked on his wheel as he may be looking to make his first attack of the big four favourites. 

40km to go

They have just over five minutes on the peloton as the pace has shot up both in the bunch and in the break. 10 minutes back to the Cavendish (AST) group and 12 minutes to Jakobsen (DFP) and co. 

Crash

Johannes Kulset (UXM). He was right up there in GC alongside his leader, Tobias Johannessen (UXM). Hopefully he is able to get back in again. 

Remco Evenepoel (SOQ) moves onto Van Gils’ (LTD) wheel with Landa and Van Wilder up there supporting him. 

Victor Campenaerts (LTD) now hits the front with Maxim Van Gils (LTD) in his wheel. Girmay (IWA) is being distanced now as Frank van den Broek (DFP) is at the back of the peloton. 

Dropped

Mathieu van der Poel (ADC)

The world champion seems to be missing something at the moment. Hopefully he will be warming into the race and we’ll see his usual self later in the coming weeks. 

KoM (Côte de Montecalvo)

1. Jonas Abrahamsen (NOR) Uno-XX Mobility 2pts
2. Cristian Rodriguez (ESP) Arkea-B&B Hotels 1pts

Meanwhile, Tim Wellens (UAD) has been dropped with Dylan Groenewegen (JAY) in the peloton. Bit surprising. 

Welten and Eekhoff have dropped back to support their DSM-Firmenich-PostNL sprint, Jakobsen. 

50km to go

Onto the Côte de Montecalvo go the break. +8’31” to the peloton. +9’16” to the Cavendish (AST) group and +10’15” back to Jakobsen (DFP) who is all on his own. 

With Cavendish (AST) he has three teammates as well as Fernando Gaviria (MOV) and Dan McLay (ARK) there as well. 

You see the likes of Jakobsen (DFP) and Cavendish (AST) out of the back and yet the likes of Ackermann (IPT) and Bennett (DAT) are right up towards the front. 

Jakobsen (DFP) now dropped by the Cavendish (AST) group and he appears to be suffering with cramp. This has been such a tough season for him so far. 

On the climb in the peloton and Cavendish (AST) goes out of the back with Jakobsen (DFP) again. 

KoM (Côte de Botteghino di Zocca)

1. Jonas Abrahamsen (NOR) Uno-X Mobility 1pt

60km to go

The peloton look to have sat up a but again. Not as intense by way of pacing in the bunch and the break continues to hold a strong gap. They are heading onto the Côte de Botteghino di Zocca now. Just one point available at the top. 

The next climb, the Côte de Botteghino di Zocca, is just around 4km away. It is 1.9km at 6.3%. 

Soudal-QuickStep, Visma-Lease a Bike and Ineos Grenadiers currently battling for the front but the gap is now at 9’11” up to the breakaway. Very interesting situation that is leaning towards the break at the moment. 

70km to go

The break are clipping along nicely and now has almost nine minutes on the peloton with just under 10km to the next climb. 

The gap to the break has stretched right back out again to just under eight minutes. This will likely drop again when they get to the next climbs, but, this is giving the break the opportunity to get the stage win. 

Fabio Jakobsen (DFP) has made it back into the peloton. 

UAE Team Emirates now lead the peloton with the massed ranks of Ineos Grenadiers and Soudal-QuickStep immediately behind them as Van Aert (TVL) and Jorgenson (TVL) have taken turns at the doctor’s car. 

20km to the next climb of the day and then we shall be really into the business end of the stage with four climbs coming one after the other. 

80km to go

Van Aert (TVL) and Jorgenson (TVL) make it back into the peloton after their spill with De Plus (IGD). 

Intermediate sprint (Dozza)

1. Jonas Abrahamsen (NOR) Uno-x Mobility 20pts
2. Harold Tejada (COL) Astana Qazaqstan 17pts
3. Quentin Pacher (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 15pts
4. Nelson Oliveira (POR) Movistar 13pts
5. Hugo Houle (CAN) Israel-Premier Tech 11pts
6. Kevin Vauquelin (FRA) Arkea-B&B Hotels 10pts
7. Mike Teunissen (NED) Intermarche-Wanty 9pts
8. Cristian Rodriguez (ESP) Arkea-B&B Hotels 8pts
9. Axel Laurance (FRA) Alpecin-Deceuninck 7pts
10. Jordan Jegat (FRA) TotalEnergies 6pts
11. Arnaud Demare (FRA) Arkea-B&B Hotels 5pts
12. Bryan Coquard (FRA) Cofidis 4pts
13. Biniam Girmay (ERI) Intermarche-Wanty 3pts
14. Mads Pedersen (DEN) Lidl-Trek 2pts
15. Jasper Philipsen (BEL) Alpecin-Deceuninck 1pt

Crash!

Laurens De Plus (IGD)
Wout Van Aert (TVL)
Matteo Jorgenson (TVL)

Thumbs up from Van Aert. 

The peloton battle for the minor points in the sprint with Demare (ARK), Coquard (COF) and Girmay (IWA) getting the points. 

Abrahamsen (UXM) now leads the points standings as well as polka dots. 

Intermediate Sprint

Jonas Abrahamsen (UXM) looks to have taken 20 points at the sprint there. 

EF Education-EasyPost and Bahrain Victorious join the other teams on the front of the peloton now as the gap continues to close. 

Cavendish (AST) and Groenewegen (JAY) get back into the peloton as they leave the Imola circuit. 

Visma-Lease a Bike lead the peloton and now is is largely flat or downhill. Meanwhile, About 50″ down on the peloton is Mark Cavendish (AST), Dylan Groenewegen (JAY) and others with Fabio Jakobsen (DFP) behind them.

Through Imola the race goes. The famous race track used as one of the Formula One circuits in Italy alongside Monza. This track was, of course, the place where Ayrton Senna lost his life in a tragic crash. 

100km to go

Bram Welten (DFP) has been caught by the peloton. 

Dropped

Fabio Jakobsen (DFP) is suffering again and has been distanced by the peloton. I imagine Mark Cavendish (AST) will be joining him soon, too. 

Politt (UAD) gets back into the pack after his mechanical. Benoot (TVL) was just ahead of him. 

Now it is just over 15km to the intermediate sprint in Dozza. The peloton now start the climb at just over six minutes behind. 

KoM (Côte de Gallisterna)

1. Jonas Abrahamsen (NOR) Uno-X Moblity 2pts
2. Cristian Rodriguez (ESP) Arkea-B&B Hotels 1pt

Mechanical

Nils Politt (UAD). An important rider for Pogačar (UAD) as he gets a quick fix and a push off by his mechanic. 

110km to go

Onto the next climb. The Côte de Gallisterna which is 1.4km long with an average of 10.5%. The wind is now looking very strong too. 

Bike change

Tiesj Benoot (TVL) and he is calm as you get with the pace clipping along nicely in the peloton. 

Cavendish (AST) and Jakobsen (DFP) have got back into the peloton as Ineos join the big four teams on the front of the bunch. 

Dropped by the peloton

Mark Cavendish (AST) and Fabio Jakobsen (DFP) have been distanced over the top, in fact. They are just around 30″ from the peloton, though. 

The upping in pace has seen a minute and a half sliced off the break’s advantage already. Maybe it will be a GC day after all? 

Now Soudal-QuickStep come to the front too and the ‘Big Four’ have their teams up at the front. Meanwhile, at the back, Cavendish (AST) and co make it over the first climb. 

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe join UAE Team Emirates, Ineos Grenadiers, Visma-Lease a Bike and DSM-Firmenich-PostNL as Astana Qazaqstan are all at the back with Mark Cavendish. 

Visma-Lease a Bike, UAE Team Emirates and Ineos Grenadiers are challenging DSM-Firmenich-PostNL on this narrow but beautiful first ascent of the day. 

KoM (Côte de Monticino)

1. Jonas Abrahamsen (NOR) Uno-X Mobility 2pts
2. Hugo Houle (CAN) Israel Premier-Tech 1pt

That extends the Norwegian’s lead over Madouas (GFC) to four points. 

Bram Welten (DFP) dropped from the break. 

Kevin Vauquelin (ARK) having his radio fixed in the breakaway. 

Just two and one point(s) available at the top of this and all but one of the climbs today. 

We are on the first climb of the day! The Côte de Monticino, not much flat roads left to ride today. 

Here is a replay of that scary moment involving a fan on the side of the road… 

130km to go

The gap seems to have settled at just over eight minutes now. 

Something we’re seeing this year in the Grand Tours is that the jersey wearers are in the full skinsuits that are block colour apart from the white jersey. Not sure I’d want the full white skinsuit with red polka dots but Jonas Abrahamsen (UXM) suits it…  

Abrahamsen (UXM) back at the car in his polka dot skinsuit, helmet, gloves, socks and even bike. He holds that jersey by just two points over Madouas (GFC). 

Not too far off the first climb of the day, the Côte de Monticino. The climb is 2km long and averages just over 7% in gradient. 

Few more teams coming towards the front of the pack with Bahrain Victorious keeping their three leaders, Pello Bilbao, Jack Haig and Santiago Buitrago to the front. 

140km to go

A few fans were a bit too close to the road and one fan’s arm struck one of the EF Education-EasyPost riders on the shoulder. Fortunately he was absolutely fine and didn’t fall. But that could’ve been very bad. 

It appears that the peloton are happy for the break to take the win again as the gap is just over eight minutes. This can, of course, all change but if they do let the break go it will still be lively in the peloton over the San Luca climb.

Some great crowds out here in Italy to see the yellow Grand Tour come through what is usually the grounds of the pink Grand Tour. The Giro d’Italia did race in this area this year and the wind was strong then too but no splits stuck and it ended in a sprint. 

150km to go

The temperature is sat at 30.7 degrees centigrade for the moment as the riders still ride into that block headwind of 20kph. 

Behind the massed ranks of DSM-Firmenich-PostNL is interesting as the first team lined up is Visma-Lease a Bike with Vingegaard, Van Aert and Jorgenson all safe in the wheels. After them is Pogačar’s UAE Team Emirates and the  the multi-leader team of Ineos Grenadiers. 

Rear puncture

Dan McLay (ARK) with the tyre going flat on him. 

Both Matthews (JAY) and Van Moer (LTD) have sat up and even stopped for a natural break as the peloton catches them. 

The break is working very well together and are almost seven minutes clear now. 

160km to go

Into the final 100 miles on today’s stage. Over six minutes between the break and the peloton. 

The tempo is a relatively steady one but it isn’t by any means slow as Matthews (JAY) and Van Moer (LTD) appear to have sat up as their gap is balooning. 

Block head wind now for the riders. 

Rear puncture

Michael Mørkøv (AST) getting his wheel changed. 

170km to go

The chasers haven’t given up just yet as they are +1’48” down on the leaders. The peloton are now almost +5’30” behind as Mathieu van der Poel (ADC) and Wout Van Aert (TVL) have a chat at the back of the peloton. 

Philippe Gilbert thinks that Matthews (JAY) spoke to Pogačar (UAD), his best friend, to see if UAE Team Emirates were going to go for the stage and got the reply of no so he attacked. Interesting theory from the former world champion. 

DSM-Firmenich-PostNL have taken control of the peloton with Evenepoel (SOQ), Van der Poel (ADC), Hindley (RBH) and others coming back from natural breaks. 

The race is currently battling with a head cross wind coming from the riders left side and it is blowing at about 25kph. That’s about 15mph. 

Mechanical

Mark Cavendish (AST). Lots of smiles and looking calm after what was a tough day yesterday. 

Bram Welten (DFP), who was looking after Fabio Jakobsen (DFP) yesterday and finished in the Cavendish (AST) group yesterday is up in the break but isn’t doing any work. Not a day for him really but he is giving it a go while his leader, Bardet (DFP), tries to stay safe in yellow behind. 

180km to go

The race has now settled down but Matthews (JAY) and Van Moer (LTD) are not closing the gap to the leaders. 

Good to see that Jan Hirt (SOQ) is smiling again after breaking three teeth yesterday before the stage involving a fan. 

Maxim Van Gils and Arnaud De Lie back at the car getting bidons, gels and some food for Lotto-DSTNY. 

Brent Van Moer (LTD) sat up to wait for Michael Matthews (JAY) but they have +55″ to bridge. It’ll be quite a substantial effort. 

Puncture

Yet another puncture for Toms Skujins (LTK). Rather unlucky for him but he looks chilled out. 

Bike change

Another bike change for Jasper Philipsen (ADC) and he is trying to fix his radio as well. Interesting to see a couple of issues for the superstar sprinter. 

Atttack

Michael Matthews (JAY) launches from the peloton and is now trying to get across the almost minute gap. He missed the move but surprising the Australian is aiming for the break. 

Bike change

Jasper Philipsen (ADC) the defending green jersey champion won’t be worried as the peloton have completely sat up now. 

The break looks like it may have gone with plenty of the teams involved with some very strong riders in there including the U23 world champion, Axel Laurance (ADC). Brent Van Moer (LTD) is trying to bridge. 

Rear puncture

Toms Skujins (LTK) the Latvian rider getting that at a frustrating moment but he won’t be worried about getting back in. 

The break swells to about 15 riders and more try to join. 

Polka dots attack

Jonas Abrahamsen (UXM) attacks and he drags four others with him for now. A few others try to join and it’ll likely end it again. But five are away at the moment. 

A brief hiatus in the pack as the back of the peloton is extremely strung out as Jan Hirt (SOQ) is right at the back after his accident in the sign on involving a fan yesterday. Hopefully he will be feeling better soon. 

The first break is caught and several new moves try to go. World champion, Mathieu van der Poel (ADC) is lurking towards the front as well but it is Quentin Pacher (GFC) who tries to get away at the front. 

Attack

The first rider to go is Krists Neilands (IPT) with polka-dot jersey Jonas Abrahamson (UXM) first to follow along with Luxembourg national champion Kevin Geniets (GFC), Anthony Turgis (TEN) and about four others. 

We have a long section of flat before we get to the climbs and maybe that is putting people off. 

199.2km to go

We are racing! The flag has been waved and there is no action just yet. 

Front puncture

Mikel Landa (SOQ). Best time to have it while they are still in the neutral zone and have five minutes until the start. 

Just 5km until the official start. 

European champion, Christophe Laporte (TVL) is just back at the car changing his shoe as he’s having an issue with his new Nimbl Ultimate shoe. 

Last year, Primož Roglič (RBH) out-smarted and out-sprinted Tadej Pogačar (UAD) to take victory on San Luca… Similar today? We shall have to see. The race does not finish at the top by the sanctuary but rather in Bologna. 

Neutral start

The riders have started the neutral zone in Cesenatico as they head to the beautiful city of Bologna and the brutal gradients of the San Luca climb. 

A really lovely photo of two good friends and the stars of yesterday’s stage and the new yellow and green jerseys, Romain Bardet and Frank van den Broek, both of DSM-Firmenich-PostNL.

The last three winners of the Giro dell’Emilia, the race that finishes at the top of the San Luca climb (1.9km at 10.6%), are all in this race. In the last five years, three of the wins were taken by Primož Roglič (RBH) with the others won by now teammate, Aleksandr Vlasov (RBH) as well as Enric Mas (MOV). 

In our graphic above you can see who the jersey wearers are after the opening stage. Of course, Frank van den Broek (DFP) can’t wear two and he would be very warm if he did! So, Maxim Van Gils (LTD) will wear white on behalf on the young Dutchman. 

So far, there are no new abandons after Michele Gazzoli (AST) left the race half way through yesterday’s stage when he had suffered enough with Cavendish and co. 

A behind the scenes look at Astana Qazaqstan’s controlled but brutal day out making sure Mark Cavendish made it to the finish in time. In the end, they made it with 9’59” to spare. 

Yesterday was a day to forget for Groupama-FDJ’s leaders as both Lenny Martinez and David Gaudu lost just under half an hour to stage winner, Romain Bardet (DFP). Maybe today will be better. 

A look at the stage 2 profile. Not as hard as yesterday’s 3600+ metres of elevation gain but there are steeper climbs and they crest closer to the finish in Bologna, giving the GC guys a better chance of making it should they drop their rivals.

Visma-Lease a Bike primed and ready for stage 2 after a successful return to Tour de France-level racing for Vingegaard and Van Aert yesterday.

Today could be the first time we see the ‘big four’ of Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Primož Roglič battle it out on the explosive San Luca climb. Pogačar will no doubt want to test the legs of the trio who were all nursing injuries in the April to May period while he was dominating the Giro.

A look at the prize they are all vying for – the famous maillot jaune.

It’s team presentation and sign-on time in Cesenatico for the second stage, with temperatures still upwards of 30 degrees but not quite as bad as the scorcher there was had on stage 1.

Make sure to follow CN’s Instagram to get an inside view of the race from our great team on the ground. Here’s Mark Cavendish arriving back at the team bus after a hellish first stage.

After a huge day 1, DSM-Firmenich PostNL will have the pleasure of donning two of the classification jerseys at the Tour (despite leading in three). Bardet in yellow, for the first time in his career, and neo pro Van Den Broek in the green points jersey.

If you somehow missed what was a magical opening day at the Tour de France yesterday, catch up with our race report. We may not get a better winners picture in the next three weeks:

Tour de France: Romain Bardet steals the show on stage 1 to claim first maillot jaune

We’re into Marco Pantani territory today as the Tour de France honours the roads of the controversial Il Pirata, 26 years after he completed the elusive Giro-Tour double.

That feat is something Tadej Pogačar is trying to emulate, with the route on stage 2 offering up the first chance for GC action to burst into life. Read our head of news Stephen Farrand’s preview of stage 2, from Cesenatico to Bologna:

Tour de France 2024 Stage 2 preview – Expect Pogačar to test Vingegaard and GC rivals on San Luca climb

Bonjour and welcome to Cyclingnews’ live coverage of stage 2 of the Tour de France!