Stage 2 features more hilly terrain in the Basque Country on the longest stage of this year's Tour, a 209km route from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Donostia San Sebastián on the coast, famou for the one-day classic held here in August, the Clasica San Sebastián. Notable that this is another move away from tradition - no more 220+km transition stages, it's the shortest "longest stage" ever
After staring on a plateau, the route will head to the sea, and over four relatively easy climbs before the city of Irun and the major difficulty of the day, the Jaizkibel climb which is done the opposite way to the Clasica. Nevertheless, many riders will be familiar with these roads.
[img] 
[/img]
Another hilly stage, another decisive final climb in the last 20km and now it has time bonuses at the top as well.
Same sort of mix as yesterday? Could Simon Yates go one better? Tadej Pogacar came close yesterday, the sole reason he didn't chase it down for the win being that his team-mate and co-leader was the one doing the winning.
[img] https://img.aso.fr/core_app/img-cycling-tdf-jpg/arrivee/47337/0:0,1200:799-1000-0-70/7cf61 [/img]
Sat in our camper by the stage 15km before Jaizkabel climb, currently pissing down. The descent to the finish is going to be a white knuckle ride. Forecast to ease up later but roads are going to be treacherous.
crazy_legs thanks for the daily posts, photos and information.
I know Mas retired mid race, while Carapaz rode on, but he has definitely withdrawn: fractured kneecap. Ouch
https://twitter.com/EFprocycling/status/1675210513444118529
Carapaz looked in agony yesterday as he rode into the finish. Poor guy.
Big disappointment for EF as well with the loss of their team leader. However with Neilson Powless in polka dot - thanks to the rather amusing sight of the breakaway smashing each other for the early minor points and then Powless slipping over the line first on the only 2nd Cat climb of the day once the break had been caught - it does give EF options to go for that and stage wins.
Wonder what Movistar's plans will be now that Enric Mas is out...?
Why not finish it at the top of the final climb?
Why not finish it at the top of the final climb?
Because San Sebastian will have paid a lot of money for the finish!
Because San Sebastian will have paid a fortune to host the finish.
[edit - I'd have beaten you to the comment if I hadn't faffed about trying how to do the accent on the a and then not bothered 😉 ]
very proud mum and dad
That breakaway looks crazy fast. I'm guessing that's not sustainable? They'll be able to pick up some points at least I suppose
****ing 'el the EF ds is a Dalek!
I’d have beaten you to the comment if I hadn’t faffed about trying how to do the accent on the a
easier to use the Basque name - no accents!
Very much my local roads from Udana onwards, looking forward to it. To echo the comment about the roads - the descent from Jaizki is a stunner but near the bottom under the trees the tarmac never sees sun and could be greasy. Same on Alkiza to some extent, have had a nasty off coming down there in mizzle.
Cav floating around on and off the back of the peloton. I think there's some discussion within the peloton about the pace to be had, some trying a bit too hard and getting told to just cool it down a bit.
back to the tour de wales
berg keeps pulling with trentin in his ear
Shame they cut away to ads just before the Yates brothers cycled past their parents
back to the tour de wales
The weather is helping these two actually, the peloton is taking it a bit more easily on the descent and allowing these two to just hold their advantage.
It'll be a major miscalculation if the peloton doesn't catch them before the finish but Powless in particular is going well, I'm willing him to hang on!
rip it!!!
Wow.
The battle for the time bonuses at the summit has ripped it to bits. Amazing the extra speed of Pogacar and Vingegaard. Loving the indecision - push on and drag Vingegaard clear of Yates but get the stage win and yellow or just hang fire and wait for it all to regroup but that allows WvA to come back as well.
Getting cagey - coming in for a much reduced bunch sprint. Everyone clamouring for WvA's wheel...
Tom Pidcock looking good!
cracking!
Loved that 💪
Outstanding long sprint.
That's a full on really smart sprint - spot the opportunity and give it everything!
what a finish...
From way back! Jumbo caught napping
nice interview with Bernal 🙂
Another great race day at le tour. Enjoyed the finsih.
Definitely - makes a nice change to have some full on GC racing right from the start. I'm enjoying the new format and especially the cut back of TT and ultra-long "transition" stages.
Lafay is a really brave, aggressive rider so it's great to see him win at the end of such a hotly contested stage.
I remember an interview with the manager of Cofidis a few years ago saying he kept champagne ready in the fridge in the bus for their inevitable tour stage win. I bet that is some good tasting champagne tonight.
I hope Pogacar never changes.
Great win for Lafay. Not many get away like that.
Good intro on the ITV4 highlights, showing the huge crowds at the start and a nice interview with the Yates twins in Yellow and Green.
[img] https://img.aso.fr/core_app/img-cycling-tdf-jpg/zone-depart-2/47462/0:0,1200:801-1000-0-70/ba52d [/img]
Don't know if it's true, or I'm biased for my UAE heavy VG team, or its media messing, but UAE are looking way happier and relaxed than Jumbo.
That attack by Lafay though. Wow.
Managed to catch the last hour after being out on a charity ride. A great finish and superb to see Yates hold on to the yellow jersey.
I just hope that it’s a big mix up for three weeks rather than a forgone conclusion.
It will be interesting to see if the relationship between Vingegaard and WvA has been affected in any way?
Oh and Mrs Llama has exactly the same boots that Orla was wearing.
@crazy-legs wrote
Good intro on the ITV4 highlights
Grr, it didn't record for us for some reason and there isn't a working version of itv4+1. At least we watched the full race coverage, bloody great race. We'll watch the repeat highlights tomorrow before the race coverage to catch up on the analysis and the filmed segments
It will be interesting to see if the relationship between Vingegaard and WvA has been affected in any way?
Can the team really support WvA AND Vingegaard?
How do you support a rider like WvA anyway, his cards are well and truly marked by the rest of the peloton now, so he would need a mega lead out train, but then, he's not a pure sprinter so would he even be in with a chance in those stages that suit having a lead out train?
Otherwise you end up with stages like today where WvA is there on his own merits of being a sprinter who can also hold on in the climbs, which means half his supposed lead out probably hasn't, but the remaining competitors know just to lean on him. He's probably lost enough one day races for having done too much chasing to keep making that mistake again.
Also, where was MvdP today, is he just holding out for the TT?
Can the team really support WvA AND Vingegaard?
How do you support a rider like WvA anyway, his cards are well and truly marked by the rest of the peloton now, so he would need a mega lead out train, but then, he’s not a pure sprinter so would he even be in with a chance in those stages that suit having a lead out train?
Otherwise you end up with stages like today where WvA is there on his own merits of being a sprinter who can also hold on in the climbs, which means half his supposed lead out probably hasn’t, but the remaining competitors know just to lean on him. He’s probably lost enough one day races for having done too much chasing to keep making that mistake again.
The suggestion is that Vingegaard could have taken a pull and helped close the gap to Lafay without any detriment to his own result.
The suggestion is that Vingegaard could have taken a pull and helped close the gap to Lafay without any detriment to his own result.
Aye fair enough, I was somewhat lazily and incoherently referring to the larger team situation rather than the specific stage. Could Vingegaard really have put in a significant pull at sort of sprint leadout pace though? I thought it was generally acceptable for GC contenders and climbers to stay out of harm's way at that point (Pogacar being the obvious flaw in that argument!)
(Pogacar G being the obvious flaw in that argument!)
and that was for another team 😉
his TT would suggest Jonas is quite useful on the flat.
WTF? Some people need a good shoeing
Agreed but thank God for tubeless!
It's the mechanics I feel sorry for, having to sort out 20 odd tyres with tubeless setup before tomorrow.
Also, where was MvdP today, is he just holding out for the TT?
lead out man for Philipsen tomorrow, why burn matches today when your job is tomorrow
How do you support a rider like WvA anyway, his cards are well and truly marked by the rest of the peloton now, so he would need a mega lead out train, but then, he’s not a pure sprinter so would he even be in with a chance in those stages that suit having a lead out train?
lead out trains? what year is it? and he won on the Champs-élysées in 2021
he should have just let today go, all he ended up was going too early and leading out Pogacar for 3rd and bonus seconds
Vingegaard did a couple of impressive pulls leading out Christophe Laporte at the Dauphiné this year. I guess the difference there being he didn't also have to keep enough energy in the tank to cover 300 attacks from Pogačar.