Tour de France Tour de France 2023, stage 2: Vitoria-Gasteiz - Donostia/San Sebastián, 208.9k

[Potomac]

So is this end of time back to "Group Alaphillipe" and the start of time back to "Group Lafay"?

 

[Red Rick]

What surprises me is just how late Van Aert started his sprint. He might not have won in a long sprint either, but if you have to catch someone a few seconds up the road that's simply a risk you must take.

Would be fun scenes if he caught Lafay but lost the sprint to Pogacar.

Vingegaard might have actually almost said something.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Powless +8mins

 

[Brullnux]

Disappointing that Vingegaard can't help a little out today on the last km. Yes, I said it.

Oh well. Disappointing winner for me personally, would rather have seen Wout or Pogacar winning, but it is what it is.

Not sure I'll ever understand why people only like the Big Guys winning races

 

[RobertCrawley]

And yet, they (UAE) did add 7 more seconds. Jumbo rode about as hard as UAE.

Yes. This will all be decided in the big hills. As always.

 

[Andy262]

Yasss Pogi taking the piss out of Wout hahaha

 

[GroupDK]

If Jonas had WORKED FOR WOUT!!!!!!

Get a grip... He got one focus Pogacar and not take risk before mountains....Jumbo had like 4 riders.. Not Jonas Sub60kg dude is the dude he should be closing because the other is sleeping.. van Aert ..needs to man up and not rely on his 60kg cap to be his closer..

 

[Poursuivant]

Hell of an initial attack that

 

[Boehmand]

People don't realise that Vingegaard didn't work so that Pogacar wouldn't be 2nd and gain even more boni seconds

Exactly, it makes no sense for him to work to pull back first Skjelmose, then Lafay, as they will be taking seconds off Pogacar on the line.

 

[StryderHells]

Not sure I'll ever understand why people only like the Big Guys winning races

I really enjoyed Lafay winning today from that group

 

[RedheadDane]

I was grinning like an absolute fool for the last K, and a few moments after that.

 

[Valv.Piti]

The AG2R hype is also over quickly. O'Connor and Gall not good enough. Which is fair. But I heard them several times mentioned to be outsiders for good GCs.

And I was clowned for saying Ben freaking Connor. Yes, he just doesn't have it, especially no in this terrain!

INEOS somewhat decent today. Good signs, Pidcock, Bernal and Rodriguez are some fine riders that I can only hope do well.

 

[Lequack]

 

[dobrien]

Lol, Pogacar just clowned Wout for his frustration.

That was fantastic!

 

[Riek s]

Pogi came third so he gets 4 more seconds, what a perfect Rabofail

Yeah was hoping for 6. So it would have been more than when lameass ving would have worked together with Pog.

 

[Brullnux]

I really enjoyed Lafay winning today from that group

I've always had a soft spot for people winning with last kilometre attacks... in a sport where the strongest wins almost every time, it's great when there are surprises!

 

[Red Rick]

Van Aert only gets a chance because Vingegaard babysits Pogacar. Meanwhile Van Aert is barely taking the 2 seconds from Pog.

 

[Rackham]

People don't realise that Vingegaard didn't work so that Pogacar wouldn't be 2nd and gain even more boni seconds

Yeah but Jumbo did do the chase irrespective of that possibility. So... they committed to a goal (a stage win for WvA) without going full in with the help of Vinge, with pretty much identical risks in both scenarios (Pog did get some bonus seconds anyway).

 

[tobydawq]

Nothing better than a Rabofail orchestrated by Belgian Pozzato . I've been trying to explain to you all that he is a liability

Shut
Up

 

[Lequack]

Is Lafay a GC contender?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Not sure I'll ever understand why people only like the Big Guys winning races

I don't, but those two are my favorite riders at the moment, so obviously I root for them...?

 

[YavorD]

People don't realise that Vingegaard didn't work so that Pogacar wouldn't be 2nd and gain even more boni seconds

He could've got 2nd anyway, no?
Even if you're right, as I said yesterday, why didn't he work with Pogacar so that he can ensure only 4 boni gap? Not to mention gapping the likes of Yates as you never know what happens in 2 weeks (unlikely, yes, but)..

 

[tobydawq]

He won a Giro stage in 2019 but not much since. He was the only guy to follow Pog and Vingegaard on the climb yesterday, so he's clearly in the form of his life.

2021

 

[StryderHells]

I've always had a soft spot for people winning with last kilometre attacks... in a sport where the strongest wins almost every time, it's great when there are surprises!

100% agree, love seeing riders take a chance like that and especially when they catch the big guys napping.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Pogacar caught taking the piss out of Van Aert smashing the bar, great stuff from the directors really stir some *** up