• The Cycling News forum is still looking to add volunteer moderators with. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to @SHaines here on the forum, or use the Contact Us form to message the Community Team.

    In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.

    Thanks!

Tour de France Tour de France 2021, Stage 2: Perros-Guirec - Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan, 183.5 km

Stage 2: Perros-Guirec – Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan, 183.5 km
It’s the fourth time in eleven years that the race heads to Brittany, and it’s also the fourth time in this period that this finish is used. The finale is very similar to the previous stage in 2018 with a double ascent of the final climb. Surprises are obviously unlikely on a finish as well-trodden as this one, but we should still see the usual first few seconds being won and lost for the GC in addition to an interesting fight for the stage win.

Map and profile
b75d6


743ad


Route details
The route stays close to the coastline as far as Saint-Brieuc, well past the halfway point. The entirety of this coastal section is rolling, but the categorised climbs all come in its latter half, starting with the short Côte de Sainte-Barbe.

cote-de-sainte-barbe.png


Shortly after, it’s time for the intermediate sprint.

VM4ddZT.jpg


The next GPM sits atop the easy Côte de Pordic.

tour-de-france-2021-stage-2-climb-n2-f3f2533696.jpg


It’s followed by the Côte de Saint-Brieuc. This is a harder climb than the one used just in the finale of the 2008 stage that finished in town, won by Hushovd in a reduced bunch sprint, although I do believe it featured in the French national championships the year after, where Dimitri Champion took the biggest win of his career.

cote-de-saint-brieuc.png


From here, the riders head inland for 50 flattish kilometers towards the final circuit. Right before they get there, there’s a brief detour into town, where there are mountain points on offer atop the somewhat uninspiringly-named Côte du village de Mûr-de-Bretagne.

tour-de-france-2021-stage-2-climb-n4-6eb8c105b1.jpg


The lap differs from the 2018 version in two places. For one, the bonification sprint has been moved from Côte de Saint-Mayeux to the first ascent of Mûr-de-Bretagne. For another, it doesn’t feature the little bump into town, instead taking the ring road to shave a kilometer off the distance from the first time up to the finish. Either way, the key parts are the same, with two ascents of the main course of the day…

2811.svg


…and the uncategorised ascent into Saint-Mayeux just after the first time up.

tour-de-france-2008-stage-2-climb-n4-a27a862a92.jpg


Final kilometers
Two right-handers with traffic islands that will presumably be paved over, one with 3.7 kilometers to go, one at the foot of the climb itself (the latter as seen in 2015). It’s a slight change to what it was like in 2018 but obviously nothing dramatic.

kQ7s2c0.jpg


rB6Wp6M.jpg
 
Last edited:
This will be passages 8 and 9 of the climb (Mur-de-Bretagne) in the last 18 years. Possibly the single most overused 3rd category climb in GTs during that time.

I remember thinking back when it was used as pass (ahem) in the road stage circa 2006 that this could be an interesting stage finish. Of course ASO went one step further and tried to turn it into the Tourmalet of Brittany.
 
I believe this might be a bit better for MvdP since it's a shorter effort, but his positioning will be crucial. He was not in the first 30 riders at the bottom of the hill today. This is clearly a problem for him.
 
I believe this might be a bit better for MvdP since it's a shorter effort, but his positioning will be crucial. He was not in the first 30 riders at the bottom of the hill today. This is clearly a problem for him.
It was odd today bc he was right in the mix with 3 teammates with about 12k to go. AF should have just ridden themselves into the ground to keep him up there.
 
In theory Alaphilippe should be the favorite after today but my gut feeling tells me that he will be too confident and attack early again but in this case too early so he'll get caught. I think Roglic has a good chance of winning.
 
I think we'll see a bunch of 15 riders in the front group at the finish line. Gaps of 5-10 secs after them.
I think Alaphilippe will win again. I think he will hold yellow till even after the time trial.