Tour de France 2020 | Stage 2 (Nice Haut Pays - Nice, 186 km)

[Faserr]

I think it is time to discuss the second stage. Tomorrow is not the time to have a bad day for the general classification contenders.
Fortunately the weather forecast looks good.

Stage Profile

Col de la Colmiane

Col de Turini

Col d'èze (second passage goes only up to the bonus sprint)

The last km

Real start ist at 13:20, finish around 17:52 to 18:25

 

[Red Rick]

I think many will be licking their wounds and wanna see where they're at with dry weather.

Only see action on the final climb, probably a group of 10-20 guys to finnish together. Quatre Chemins simply isn't that hard.

 

[Brumdog66]

Alaphillipe to hold yellow from tomorrow until stage 15

 

[skippo12]

I think many will be licking their wounds and wanna see where they're at with dry weather.

Only see action on the final climb, probably a group of 10-20 guys to finnish together. Quatre Chemins simply isn't that hard.

Agree. But I would love to see carnage on one of the cat 1 climbs. Maybe one or two teams are willing to test the GC guys. Certainly a good opportunity to eliminate some contenders that crashed today or during the Dauphine.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I think many will be licking their wounds and wanna see where they're at with dry weather.

Only see action on the final climb, probably a group of 10-20 guys to finnish together. Quatre Chemins simply isn't that hard.

Yeah, probably. It would be nice if UAE would try something so that Pogi could gain some time, Formolo is in great shape atm and could do a ton of damage on a stage like this.

 

[Amazinmets87]

Anyone know the average gradient of Chemins?

 

[Anderis]

Small group sprint from a group of climbers and Higuita FTW.

 

[tobydawq]

The Alaphilippe show will commence tomorrow.

 

[bob.a.feet]

I don't think it will be a particularly exciting stage. That being said, I am excited to see what shape everyone is in. I have no idea at the moment. Dauphine stage 2 and 3 gave us a clear picture of the favourites, but of course since then it's all been flipped over. There could be many surprises yet to come in this unusual edition of the Tour. My hope for tomorrow is that we have no more crashes.

It sort of looks like a stage for Roglic to attack, but I can't imagine Jumbo would want the jersey so soon. It'd be a surprise if one of the GC guys tries anything on Colmiane or Turini. Perhaps it could be a day for the break, but I have a feeling someone like Martinez or Martin will slip away on the final climb and stay clear.

 

[BlueRoads]

The Alaphilippe show will commence tomorrow.

Naa... don't think so. But he would deserve it. As a compensation for an armada of people who insist on spelling his name wrong.

I don't think it will be a particularly exciting stage. That being said, I am excited to see what shape everyone is in. I have no idea at the moment. Dauphine stage 2 and 3 gave us a clear picture of the favourites, but of course since then it's all been flipped over. There could be many surprises yet to come in this unusual edition of the Tour. My hope for tomorrow is that we have no more crashes.

It sort of looks like a stage for Roglic to attack, but I can't imagine Jumbo would want the jersey so soon. It'd be a surprise if one of the GC guys tries anything on Colmiane or Turini. Perhaps it could be a day for the break, but I have a feeling someone like Martinez or Martin will slip away on the final climb and stay clear.

I think with all the crashes before the race and today tomorrow will already be revealing. Some people will just be in a bad shape and I don't think they will be able to hide it.

 

[Lequack]

 

[markene2]

If Jumbo is smart they hammer it and hopefully gain time on the people who crashed today

 

[Red Rick]

Anyone know the average gradient of Chemins?

The profile is in the OP as it's the first part of Col d'Eze. Looks like slightly over 5km at around 6.5%. Nothing crazy hard. Steepest part at the start, so unless someone wants to try relatively it's more like the Poggio but even there the decisive part is steeper and the descend more technical.

 

[Netserk]

The profile is in the OP as it's the first part of Col d'Eze. Looks like slightly over 5km at around 6.5%. Nothing crazy hard. Steepest part at the start, so unless someone wants to try relatively it's more like the Poggio but even there the decisive part is steeper and the descend more technical.

 

[Breezy1985]

This is probably gonna be ridden cautiously until the final climb and nothing but a few seconds gained

 

[Red Rick]

Mainly talking about attacks just before the top. Big difference is obviously on Quatre Chemins they're trying to drop other climbers while on the Poggio they're trying to drop sprinters

 

[Rollthedice]

Yeah, probably. It would be nice if UAE would try something so that Pogi could gain some time, Formolo is in great shape atm and could do a ton of damage on a stage like this.

UAE looked composed today, riding often at the front. Pogacar was the only GC rider to come home with the front group. Hopefully they'll try something tomorrow.

 

[Red Rick]

UAE looked composed today, riding often at the front. Pogacar was the only GC rider to come home with the front group. Hopefully they'll try something tomorrow.

Roglic also seemed comfortable to me today, personally going to the front on a descent and trying to get the neutralization going.

However I don't see Jumbo going for it on Turini, although they might just do it to get a numerical advantage there or do some absolutely wonky stuff like drill it all day to get Sivakov OOT.

Honestly I think Jumbo will wait to put the hammer down until stage 6, though they may go fro the stage win on stage 4 already.

Really for the last 2 climbs everything depends on the group size, if the group is 20-30 guys it might be a fun two final climbs but if it's bigger it's probably gonna be pretty controlled.

 

[Velolover2]

One for the break.

I'm going with Formolo as well. Some of the "classic" breakaway riders will try. Lutensko, De Gendt, De Marchi, Benoot, Herrada, Mohorič, Rojas, De La Cruz, Calmejane.

 

[Red Rick]

One for the break.

I'm going with Formolo as well. Some of the "classic" breakaway riders will try. Lutensko, De Gendt, De Marchi, Benoot, Herrada, Mohorič, Rojas, De La Cruz, Calmejane.

I don't know why this would go to the break, I reckon a lot of teams would be keen on yellow and only Jumbo and Ineos would not really want it yet. And even if they took it, they can just ship it off later. The need to carry the jersey is a bit overstated IMO.

 

[Anderis]

Very few riders have actual losses in GC so if a decent breakaway forms, it won't have much of a leeway. Hopefully this makes for a good pace and a good stage.

 

[houtdffan]

How is Quatre Chemins not even categoriezed? Turini should be HC, but than final climb is a cat 2 every year

 

[houtdffan]

The profile is in the OP as it's the first part of Col d'Eze. Looks like slightly over 5km at around 6.5%. Nothing crazy hard. Steepest part at the start, so unless someone wants to try relatively it's more like the Poggio but even there the decisive part is steeper and the descend more technical.

It's quite a bit harder than the Poggio. The final climb is a legit climb. Basically, a low elevation version of Pra Loup

 

[Red Rick]

Wait. Are their bonus seconds on top of the final climb?

 

[Escarabajo]

Wait. Are their bonus seconds on top of the final climb?

Yes. That's what the B stands for!