2023-07-02 23:15:00
The second stage of the Tour de France where big names attacked one after another. Victor Rafe (Cofidis, France), who made an early attack 1km before the finish, gave France victory in the Basque Country.
Wout van Aert (Belgium, Jumbo Visma) photo: CorVos Will there be a Pogacar vs. Vingego battle like the day before? Photo: CorVos
Simon and Adam, who fought for victory on the first day, wait for the start at the top Photo: CorVos
July 2 (Sun) Vitoria-Gasteiz – San Sebastian image: ASO 2nd stage Vitoria-Gasteiz – San Sebastian 208.9km image: ASO
Vitoria-Gasteiz, the starting point of the second day of the Basque Country, was the starting point for the fourth stage of last year’s Vuelta a Espana. On the second day of the race, the 209km race was contested, heading to San Sebastián for the Classica San Sebastian (UCI World Tour), which is held the week after the end of the Tour every year.
Proceed on a flat hill with an altitude of about 500m, and after descending once, fine ups and downs start from the 3rd and 4th grade mountains that appear in quick succession. And the key point of the day is the 2nd grade mountain high skivel (distance 8.1km / average 5.3%) starting from the remaining 24.6km. The climb with a time bonus at the top has an average gradient of 7.5 to 7.8% from the last 3km, so is it tough for sprinters who can climb?
With a temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and a humidity of over 80%, 174 people started the race, excluding the two who left the race yesterday. Neilson Powles (USA) jumped out from the EF Education Easy Post, which lost the overall ace on the first day, Edvard Boassonhagen (Norway, Total Energie), Remy Cavana (France, Sudar Quickstep), and three people. form an escape group.
On this day, three people including Remy Cavana (France, Sudal Quickstep) escaped Photo: So Isobe
The peloton was controlled by leader team UAE Team Emirates photo: CorVos
Boassonhagen was aiming for his fourth and Cavagna’s first Tour section wins, while Paules, who wears the Maillotapova (mountain award jersey), is aiming for mountain points. Boasson Hagen took the lead in the early sprint points, and in the main group, Jasper Philipsen (Belgium, Alpecin Dukuninck) came first in a heated battle where sprinters were jumbled together to finish 4th (13 points).
The UAE team Emirates, which has Adam Yates (UK) who won the brothers’ confrontation the day before and wears the maillot jaune, controls the main group. There is a scene where Matteo Trentin (Italy), who was towing the car, slips and falls in the repeated rain, and a scene where Mikkel Bjerg (Denmark) gets angry when his friends admonish him that his pace is too fast. Thankfully, the lead was shortened by a maximum of 5 minutes.
Uncle Devil supports Neilson Powles (USA, EF Education Easy Post) who became alone Photo: CorVos
Adam and Simon running on the peloton Photo: So Isobe Memorial banner for the late Gino Meder (Switzerland, Bahrain Victorious) Photo: CorVos
Mark Cavendish (England, Astana Kazakhstan) was early behind in the peloton, followed by the likes of Fabio Jacobsen (Netherlands, Sudar Quickstep) and Dylan Groenewegen (Netherlands, Jaiko Alulah) on a series of steep climbs. Pure Sprinters drop out. On the other hand, Paules took the lead alone as he was absorbed by Cavagna, followed by Boassonhagen and Proton from the leading group.
At the remaining 36km point, a crash involving four people including Maxim van Hirs (Belgium, Lot Destiny) occurred, and Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark, Jumbo Visma) suffered a puncture immediately after. The main group slowed down in order to wait for the return of the previous champion, and Powles staggered to gain a time difference, but was absorbed by the UAE’s high-speed towing at the remaining 19km point. France’s leading players such as David Goddu (Groupama FDJ) and Julien Alaphilippe (Sudal Quickstep) were behind this high pace.
When entering the 2nd class mountain high skivel (distance 8.1 km / average 5.3%), which gives bonus times of 8 seconds, 5 seconds, and 2 seconds in the order of passing the summit, Adam Yates Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates) make a pace for Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark, Jumbo Visma) quickly followed Simon Yates (England, Jaiko Alullah), who cut through the remaining 300m to the summit. Pogacar (-8 seconds gain), who defeated Vingego in a heated battle that could be mistaken for a finishing sprint, attacked on the descent.
Adam Yates (United Kingdom, UAE Team Emirates) setting the pace in the 2nd class mountain high skivel Photo: CorVos
Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates) who jumped out before the summit and stepped in. Photo: CorVos
Pello Bilbao (Spain, Bahrain Victorias) attacking downhill with pride Photo: CorVos
Vingego, of course, marks Pogacar as Simon is late. However, as at the end of the previous day, Vinguego refused to rotate, so Jumbo Visma, including Wout van Aert (Belgium), joined from the back. Then, at the counter, Pello Bilbao (Spain, Bahrain Victorias), who is good at downhills, set up.
“Last week, I did two test runs on this downhill,” said Bilbao, who jumped out according to plan, but Jumbo Visma, who left four people in the group, including Van Aert, caught him at the remaining 5.5km point. Emanuel Buchmann (Germany, Bora-Hansgrohe) and Thomas Pidcock (Great Britain, Ineos Grenadiers) set the pace once again, but Vingegaard’s safety was ensured and Van Aert’s Yumbo aimed for the stage victory. cannot shake off the formation of
While the fans who packed San Sebastian in a one-day race-like attack battle sent great cheers, Danish champion Matthias Skermoos (Riddle Trek) also tried to accelerate, but Van Aert himself caught it. Shortly before Flamm Rouge (1km remaining), Victor Rafe (France, Cofidis) jumped out from behind the group.
Van Aert approaches the leading Victor Rafe (Cofidis, France) Photo: So Isobe
Victor Rafe (France) who brought Cofidis their first win in 15 years Photo: CorVos
Wilko Keldermann (Netherlands, Jumbo-Visma), who is pulling in front of Van Aert, does not improve his speed against Rafe, who has created a gap with the group at once. With 600m remaining, Rafe maintained his lead on the final straight. Van Aert finally started his sprint with 100m remaining, but it was too late. Rafe, who decided to attack at the right time, gave France victory on the second day of the tournament.
It was the first victory for Cofidis in 15 years since Sylvain Chavanel (France) in 2008. Rafe, who followed Pogacar and Vingego on the first day of the race and showed good form, said, “When I jumped out, I didn’t have time to think about winning or losing. I was watching, and at the same time I could see the signs counting down 500m and 400m remaining, but as the finish approached, I could feel my power gradually dropping. That! That! (Do your best!)”, I encouraged myself and believed in victory,” he said, looking back on the victory with a sense of realism.
Victor Rafe (Cofidis, France) who won the Maillot Vert with his victory Photo: So Isobe
Maillot Jaune is held by Adam Yates (UK, UAE Team Emirates) Photo: So Isobe Neilson Powles defending Maillot Apova (USA, EF Education Easy Post) Photo: So Isobe
Immediately after the finish, Van Aert waved his right hand to express his frustration and finished in 2nd place, while Pogacar finished in 3rd place with a bonus time of 4 seconds (total of 12 seconds for this stage). Adam Yates, who finished in 19th place with the same time as the leader, retained Maillot Jaune, while Skellmoos, who finished higher, was demoted to 23rd place due to skewing (the same time as the top) was given. there is
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