TOUR’21 Stage 2: one victory = two shirts for Van der Poel!

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Progress report : Mathieu van der Poel from Alpecin-Fenix ​​made up for the disappointment of stage 1 by winning stage 2 in a hill climb on the Côte de Mûr-de-Bretagne, he also took Julian’s yellow jersey Alaphilippe (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) who finished fifth at 8 seconds.

The victory of his grandfather

The second stage of the Tour de France 2021 was won by Mathieu van der Poel. The leader of Alpecin-Fenix ​​was the best after a 183.5 kilometer stage, finishing on the steep climb of Mûr-de-Bretagne. Van der Poel took a gap on everyone and also grabbed the yellow jersey.

– The last mile of stage 2 and read our full report and photos below: –

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Profile of stage 2 of the circuit

Tour boss Christian Prudhomme describes stage 2: “After a first part allowing to appreciate the wild and unique beauty of the Pink Granite Coast, the course plunges into the land towards an enticing final: the double climb of the Côte de Mûr-de-Bretagne will be a ruthless judge especially since the riders will start the climb almost at a standstill, without the momentum that the old course had to offer.

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Swimwear at the start of the day

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RogliÄ passed stage 1 to finish third

The first attack came from KOM, Ide Schelling, but it took a while for the escape to escape. After more than 10 kilometers Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo), Anthony Perez (Cofidis), Simon Clarke (Qhubeka NextHash) and Jonas Koch (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) managed to take the gap. Schelling attempted to make the crossing as Perez was a dangerous customer for his mountain jersey.

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Leader in points, Michael Matthews (BikeExchange) and KOM Ide Schelling (BORA-hansgrohe) at the start of stage 2 at Perros-Guirec

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Stage 2 from Perros-Guirec to Mur-de-Bretagne Guerlédan (183.5km)

Schelling jumped out of the field three times, but each time he was pulled out. The fourth time, however, it worked. With J̩r̩my Cabot (TotalEnergies), he joins the four managers. The pursuit was in the hands of Deceuninck РQuick-Step and INEOS Grenadiers. They kept the difference between 3 and 4 minutes.

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A wet yellow jersey at the start of the race

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A happy Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo) at the break

On the first climb of the day, Perez managed to take the only mountain point, which puts him on the same level in the KOM as Schelling. In the intermediate sprint of the peloton: Ewan stays ahead of Cavendish and Philipsen. On the second climb, Perez tried to surprise, but the Dutchman managed to take a point.

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The peloton weren’t too interested in the pursuit

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KOM Ide Schelling (BORA-hansgrohe) and Anthony Perez (Cofidis) enter the break

Collaboration at the front was not enhanced by the presence of Schelling and Perez. This resulted in an attack from Theuns, who took the points solo on the Côte de Saint-Brieuc and was later joined by Cabot. The two leading riders were 2 minutes ahead, while the rest of the breakaway was caught.

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Tim Declercq (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) was at the forefront as usual

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The break worked well together (at first), but they never had too much time

As the first climb of the Mûr-de-Bretagne approaches, the pace of the peloton picks up. Several leading gears have gone to the front to keep the leaders ahead. Theuns pulled away from Cabot 20 kilometers before the finish when the peloton’s breath was on his neck, but the big teams were now at full speed. Theuns received the “Fighting Spirit Award†for his efforts.

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The peloton maintains the pressure, but the action will be on the Mur-de-Bretagne Guerlédan

Lazer helmets banner G1

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Breton fishing village

For the first time in Mûr-de-Bretagne, 17 kilometers from the finish, Mathieu van der Poel launched the first and only attack. The leader of Alpecin-Fenix ​​rode briefly for 18 seconds to cross the line first with one lap to go. He also took eight bonus seconds on top of mountain points.

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Theuns and Cabot let go of the others at the break

Behind him, Tadej PogaÄar sprinted to 5 seconds and Primož RogliÄ to 2 seconds. They are just ahead of the yellow jersey Julian Alaphilippe. Van der Poel’s attack was repelled by the men in the general classification, so that a compact peloton set off on the last lap. INEOS Grenadiers took the initiative and led the elite group at full speed until the final climb of Mûr-de-Bretagne.

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The break was over with less than 20 to go

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Theuns was the last to be caught

The INEOS train imposed a sustained pace on the climb, but it was Xandro Meurisse who opened the action in the final. Van der Poel’s teammate flew with Davide Formolo. However, the Belgian and the Italian were unable to continue their effort. Nairo Quintana launched the next attack, followed by Van der Poel himself.

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The pace picked up in the peloton – Wout Van Aert was close to the front

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Van der Poel’s second attack was enough

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The stage victory he wanted

Sonny Colbrelli then left too early, after which Van der Poel took advantage of a quiet moment to walk away. The Dutchman immediately swerved as he stopped behind him.

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5th place for Alaphilippe and no yellow jersey

Van der Poel won the stage by 6 seconds ahead of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) and Wilco Kelderman (BORA-hansgrohe). There was a gap with the yellow jersey, Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck – Quick-Step), in 5th place at 8 seconds. Van der Poel now leads the world champion by 8 seconds overall with Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) at 13 seconds and Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) at 14.

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Congratulations

Stage winner and overall leader, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix): “It is above all my way of proceeding. You can’t even plan something like this. I played everything I got on the first climb. I wanted to grab the bonus seconds because it was the last chance for me to get the yellow jersey and I needed it. When I launched my attack half a mile from the finish, no one followed me, so I continued. The last 500 meters were really tough, but I knew I had to go full throttle to win. I only found out that I had taken the yellow jersey 5 minutes after the finish line. To end like that, it’s incredible. I felt much better today than yesterday. Maybe yesterday I was a little stressed. Unfortunately my grandfather [Raymond Poulidor] is no longer there … But imagine if he was there, how proud he would be! I have spoken about it several times with my mother.

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MvdP fans were happy

Result of stage 2 of the Tour de France:
1. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Alpecin-Fenix ​​in 4:18:30
2. Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates at 0:06
3. Primoz Roglic (Slo) Jumbo-Visma
4. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) BORA-hansgrohe
5. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Deceuninck – Quick-Step at 0:08
6. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
7. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma
8. Sergio Higuita Garcia (Col) EF Education-Nippo
9. Pierre Latour (Fra) TotalEnergies
10. Jack Haig (Aus) Bahrain victorious
11. Michael Woods (Can) Israel Start-up Nation
12. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Grenadiers INEOS
13. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar
14. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
15. Nairo Quintana (Col) Arkea-Samsic
16. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana-Premier Tech
17. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar
18. Pello Bilbao Lopez De Armentia (Spa) Bahrain Victorious
19. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
20. Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain victorious
21. Esteban Chaves Rubio (Col) BikeExchange
22. Emanuel Buchmann (German) BORA-hansgrohe
23. Wout Van Aert (Bel) Jumbo-Visma
24. Guillaume Martin (Fra) Cofidis
25. Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education-Nippo.

Tour de France overall after stage 2:
1. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Alpecin-Fenix ​​in 8:57:25
2. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Deceuninck – Quick-Step at 0:08
3. Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates at 0:13
4. Primoz Roglic (Slo) Jumbo-Visma at 0:14
5. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) BORA-hansgrohe at 0:24
6. Jack Haig (Aus) Bahrain victorious at 0:26
7. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
8. Sergio Higuita Garcia (Col) EF Education-Nippo
9. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma
10. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
11. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar
12. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana-Premier Tech
13. Pello Bilbao Lopez De Armentia (Spa) Bahrain victorious
14. Nairo Quintana (Col) Arkea-Samsic
15. Esteban Chaves Rubio (Col) BikeExchange
16. Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education-Nippo
17. Pierre Latour (Fra) TotalEnergies at 0:31
18. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Grenadiers INEOS
19. Wout Van Aert (Bel) Jumbo-Visma
20. Geraint Thomas (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 0:41
21. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
22. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana-Premier Tech
23. Alex Aranburu Deba (Spa) Astana-Premier Tech at 0:46
24. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain victorious at 1:12
25. Lucas Hamilton (Aus) BikeExchange at 1:16.

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