2019 Critérium du Dauphiné stage 2 Mauriac to Craponne 180km

Mar 29, 2016
6,974
2
9,485
Monday's stage - 2019 Critérium du Dauphiné stage 2 Mauriac to Craponne-sur-Arzon 180 km.

Start 12.00 CET, TV from 15.00 CET

The 2nd stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné is played out on lumpy terrain. At 180 kilometres, the races includes eight intermediate hills in the Auvergne region. The last climb is crested 18 kilometres before the finish in Craponne-sur-Arzon.

Stage 2 serves a trying test with a relentless series of energy-sapping uphills. The climbing gets underway as early as kilometre 7 when the riders tackle the Côte de Moussages, which is a 4 kilometres incline with an average gradient of 6.5%. The route continues in undulating fashion to the Côte de la Martel (2.4 kilometres at 5.7%), Côte de Cheylade (4.2 kilometres at 6%), Côte de la Tourbière du Jolan (2 kilometres at 5.5%) and the Côte de Chavanon (3.6 kilometres at 5%). Not hard in themselves, but as the route tackles them in short succession it will wear the riders – and especially the sprinters – out.

A long downhill takes the riders to Grenier-Montgon. A period of relative calm lasts for about 30 kilometres before the second section of uphills begins with the Côte de la Baraque. This 3.9 kilometres ascent at 5.3% is a taster and following a short drop the Côte de la Barbatte appears. The 5.8 kilometres climb at 7% is crested with 42.5 kilometres remaining, while the Côte de Saint-Victor sur Arlanc is the ultimate uphill test. Arguably, this is the hardest climb of the day – 3.1 kilometres at 9.4% – with its peak inside the last 18 kilometres.
The finale takes place on a rolling section. A downslope begins 3 kilometres before the line and the last 500 metres run false flat uphill.

Profile
stage-2-profile.jpg

map
stage-2-route.jpg
 
Apr 16, 2009
17,606
6,863
28,180
Small group sprint is so obvious.

Ala for the win. EBH maybe survives. That last climb could be very hard for him.
 
Oct 14, 2017
12,196
3,232
23,180
There's a nice gap between the final climb and the finish. I think EBH can be there.
 
Mar 29, 2016
6,974
2
9,485
Going from the quotes after stage 1, everyone was glad just to get through it unscathed and without problems. If the speed is high again, then the sprinters will have problems. If Gilbert is feeling good then he or Ala should be a good bet.

Weather forecast is for the occasional shower and about 16C.
 
Nov 16, 2013
26,792
27,923
28,180
Re:

Robert5091 said:
Going from the quotes after stage 1, everyone was glad just to get through it unscathed and without problems. If the speed is high again, then the sprinters will have problems. If Gilbert is feeling good then he or Ala should be a good bet.

Weather forecast is for the occasional shower and about 16C.

I don't think the sprinters stand the tiniest of chances tomorrow.
 
Aug 18, 2010
11,435
3,594
28,180
Re: Re:

tobydawq said:
Robert5091 said:
Going from the quotes after stage 1, everyone was glad just to get through it unscathed and without problems. If the speed is high again, then the sprinters will have problems. If Gilbert is feeling good then he or Ala should be a good bet.

Weather forecast is for the occasional shower and about 16C.

I don't think the sprinters stand the tiniest of chances tomorrow.

I agree. DQS rode not for their sprinter but to get rid of the sprinters today. Tomorrow is harder so it is obvious that they will again make sure all of the real sprinters die. If for some inexplicable reason they don’t do it, someone else will,
 
Nov 16, 2013
26,792
27,923
28,180
Hodeg had already been dropped when they started their acceleration at the front.
 
Mar 29, 2016
6,974
2
9,485
Tommy D came in with LRP and A.Yates on stage one, but no update on his knee. We'll just have to see what happens on the road.
 
Apr 17, 2013
6,496
433
18,580
Do we usually have individual stage threads for a high profile week-long stage race such as Dauphiné? I don't seem to recall. Good work by the way.
 
Feb 20, 2012
54,081
44,446
28,180
One of those final 50km profiles would have been nice.

Hope Dumoulin finishes with the GC guys today and doesn't have a reaction to his knee
 
Mar 14, 2011
1,127
24
10,530
Re: 2019 Critérium du Dauphiné stage 2 Mauriac to Craponne 1

Grossschartner from the break.

I think it's not possible for Boasson Hagen / Gilbert / Impey or other similar riders to survive this day in the front group.
 
Apr 6, 2016
3,635
410
14,580
Break:
Jack Haig (Mitchelton-Scott), Benoit Cosnefroy (AG2R-La Mondiale), Julian Alaphilippe, Rémi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Emanuel Buchmann, Gregor Mühlberger (Bora-hansgrohe), Gorka Izagirre (Astana), Ruben Fernandez (Movistar), David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma), Carl Fredrik Hagen (Lotto Soudal), Alessandro De Marchi (CCC), Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb)