Tarragona to Barcelona, Spain – 168.5 km – Hilly Course
Photos: Courtesy A.S.O.
Today’s hilly course led into a three time circuit in Barcelona, that included an uphill climb. UAE strategically dominated the race after it reached the circuit, then drove a brutal pace up the hill for each of the three climbs. In the end, Mexican rider, Isaac Del Toro, who was brought to support Tadej Pogacar, crossed the finish line first, with Pogacar second, and Evanepol third. Vingegaard was close behind and retain the Yellow Jersey.
“To be at this level in France, it’s a dream,” said Del Toro. The 22-year old who is racing in the Tour for the first time, also now leads the Green Jersey with 30 points.
This was the gift from Pogacar as we are sure he hopes Del Toro will support him through the rest of the Tour. Del Toro also donned the White Jersey today.
The GC standings are
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike)
2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG), +6”
3. Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), 15”
4. Isaac del Toro (UAE Emirates-XRG), +16”
5. Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek), +19”
The Polka Dot jersey traded over to Molenaar (from Pogacar).
The Details:
Almost three years (1,077 days) after stepping on the final podium of the Tour de France 2023 to receive the Maillot Jaune and claim his second overall victory, Jonas Vingegaard was back on top of the overall standings thanks to Visma-Lease a Bike’s performance yesterday.
The Danish star also suffered a career and life threatening crash in 2024.
Vingegaard is the first rider to win the Giro and take the first Maillot Jaune of the Tour since Miguel Indurain did it in 1993.Not considering the Volta a Catalunya, the other two riders to have won the Giro and taken the first Maillot Jaune are two icons of the sport: Eddy Merckx (in 1970, 1972, and 1974), and Bernard Hinault (1980, 1982, 1985).
He entered stage 2 with a lead of 8 seconds to Filippo Ganna (Netcompany Ineos), and 12 seconds to Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG).
Twenty riders were within a minute of the Maillot Jaune ahead of an explosive finale in Barcelona, with the ascent of Montjuïc and time bonuses at the finish (10, 6, and 4 seconds for the top 3 finishers).
Today was a Green Jersey day, with a hilly course suitable for the likes of Egan Bernal (Netcompany Ineos) who “never expected” to wear the green jersey of the Tour de France, but the Colombian climber was the fastest after 5.1 kilometers yesterday. Similarly to the green jersey situation, there were no points on offer yesterday for the KOM standings, but Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG) was awarded the polka-dot jersey after he was the fastest in the hilly final section of the team time trial.
After a few skirmishes from the start, 20 kilometers in, a lead trio are 20 seconds ahead of a group of chasers trying to get away from the bunch. Filippo Ganna (Netcompany Ineos) initiated that move.
At 27 km, the gap had increased to 3 minutes, 55 seconds. Felix Engelhardt (Jayco AlUla), Frank van den Broek (Picnic PostNL) and Alex Molenaar (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) have been going hard to build their lead. They were headed for the one intermediate sprint in the course, set in Viladecans. After 67 km, they still had a lead over the peloton. Molenaar got the points at the intermediate sprint.
Birmian Girmay (NSN) came fourth in the sprint after the first three breakaway riders. The results of the intermediate sprint were:
1. Molenaar, 25 pts
2. Engelhardt, 20 pts
3. Van den Broek, 16 pts
4. Girmay, 14 pts
5. Pedersen, 12 pts
6. Philipsen, 10 pts
7. Turgis, 9 pts
8. Merlier, 8 pts
9. Kanter, 7 pts
10. Matthews, 6 pts
11. Waerenskjold, 5 pts
12. Ballerini, 4 pts
13. Vermeersch, 3 pts
14. Stuyven, 2 pts
15. Wellens, 1 pt
After the sprint, the gap to the break was down to 1 minute, 30 seconds.
Next up was the first cat 2 climb of the day, and Molenaar took the five points at the top. Frank van den Broek (Picnic PostNL) was reeled in by the bunch.
At the second cat. 2 climb, Côte de Begues (cat. 2, km 94.2) the points were as follows:
1. Molenaar, 5 pts
2. Engelhardt, 3 pts
3. Van den Broek, 2 pts
4. Tarling, 1 pt
Isaac del Toro (UAE) was on the side of the road, and was passed by the Team cars. Unable to go back, he managed a bike change, and took off again. Nils Politt helped him move up to the peloton. There was 55 km left for the course. The peloton was 36 seconds behind the leaders Molenaar and Englehardt.
They were headed for the first of three circuits in Barcelona. Michal Kwiatkowski had a wheel change that left him way behind the bunch. Quinn Simmons also had a bike change. Apparently the new disc wheels are a negative when it comes to quick wheel changes during a race.
Pail Seixas also had a bike change, with Paret-Peintre offering up his own. Not clear where all the punctures were coming from.
With 20 miles left to go, the leaders were reined in.
As they headed up the first cat 3 climb, Côte du Château de Montjuïc, Brandon McNulty (UAE) set a brutal pace, with Pogacar on his wheel, followed by Vingegaard, Evenepoel, Jorgenson, Grégoire, Vacek. Seixas tried to move up. Mc Nulty got 2 points, and Pogacar 1 point at the KOM.
UAE continued to dominate at the front as they approached the second climb in the circuit. Now there was 10 miles left to go.
Four UAE Emirates-XRG riders lead the way, McNulty, Yates, Pogacar, and Del Toro. At the top McNulty got the points, with Jorgensen second.
As they headed towards the last climb, it was anyone’s guess how the strategies would play out. Everyone expected Pogacar to go.
With 700 meters to the top, Pogacar still hadn’t attacked. Adam Yates (UAE) was driving the pace at the front. Vingegaard was right behind him. Carapaz made a move, and was followed with Seixas in the mix. They were in the descent before the final 1 km uphill finish. Remco Evanepol was also in the mix.
In the final skirmish, Pogacar, Del Toro and Vingegaard were battling it to the end, and Pogacar gave the win to Del Toro.
