Tour de France Tour de France 2024, Stage 2: Cesenatico > Bologne (Bologna), 199.2 km

[RobertCrawley]

I have no idea what's going to happen. The cat 3s don't seem to have enough punch to create huge time gaps and there's a long flat finish. But I do think the heat will be a factor.

 

[Netserk]

MvdP on the move.

 

[AmRacer]

They wanted the stage if other teams helped him, they didn’t wanted to do the work alone. If there was a fail in this stage, then we can start by the EF fail, then by the Emirates fail by burying 4 riders, and we can end by the lidl and Visma fail by losing the stage by 5 s.

The guys from DSM had a lot of merit yesterday.

If other teams do a good pace during the stage, they don’t need to do fortunately. It's a long process everyday with a good pace.

UAE didn't fail.
If Visma wanted the stage, they shouldn't let Bardet go. Same can be said about Lidl. EF failed, or they didn't know what strategy to use.

 

[Boehmand]

Abrahamsen is a machine

 

[Netserk]

DSM policing the front, but ending up with their robo cop in the break.

11 riders with a gap. Many riders chasing.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Has Hirt managed to get to a dentist to do his teeth?
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...-de-france-even-officially-starts-in-florence

McCrossan just mentioned on comms on the international feed that he managed to get to a dentist for a repair job last night...

 

[Tim Cahill]

That's it I think?

1		97	PACHER Quentin	18:56
2		105	LAURANCE Axel	18:56
3		136	HOULE Hugo	18:56
4		157	OLIVEIRA Nelson	18:56
5		161	VAUQUELIN Kévin	29:24
6		168	RODRÍGUEZ Cristián	18:56
7		176	TEUNISSEN Mike	29:24
8		188	WELTEN Bram	39:22
9		198	TEJADA Harold	15:13
10		202	ABRAHAMSEN Jonas	15:13

 

[Danskebjerge]

I can't help thinking what a waste of good cycling it was when those beginnings of the races weren't shown on TV.

 

[Netserk]

That's it I think?

1		97	PACHER Quentin	18:56
2		105	LAURANCE Axel	18:56
3		136	HOULE Hugo	18:56
4		157	OLIVEIRA Nelson	18:56
5		161	VAUQUELIN Kévin	29:24
6		168	RODRÍGUEZ Cristián	18:56
7		176	TEUNISSEN Mike	29:24
8		188	WELTEN Bram	39:22
9		198	TEJADA Harold	15:13
10		202	ABRAHAMSEN Jonas	15:13

Yep. With Van Moer chasing, plus Bling further behind.

EDIT: 216 Jordan Jegat as well.

 

[RobertCrawley]

I can't help thinking what a waste of good cycling it was when those beginnings of the races weren't shown on TV.

Back in my day in the US, we got 15 minutes of coverage on the ABC Wide World of Sports.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Just bumped in after a nice challenging hilly ride myself.
First thing my eyes are displayed is Abrahamsen in early break.
Is he really without brakes on his bike?

 

[RobertCrawley]

Echelons today?

 

[tobydawq]

So TotalEnergies not present? Good job...

 

[Netserk]

I think it will be up to UAE, RedBull and EF to chase. The latter to blink first.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

So TotalEnergies not present? Good job...

They actually have Jordan Jegat up there.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Echelons today?

That option not without reach I would say. Just 6m/s, but entering buttom of Po Valley - besides from N-W is perfect for "Po-gusts" in relation to riders' direction Ravenna - Faenza and Imola - Bologna flat stretches.
I wouldn't rule that scenario out.

 

[topcat]

They actually have Jordan Jegat up there.

Yes, they have, good job.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Honestly I do think Emilia isn't a great representation of what to expect here cause they do like 5 loops of San Luca instantly doubling down on itself.

It's probably going to be more like Malhao in Algarve. They do that twice and it's a bit longer than San Luca. The main difference being that that race is very early season/ form. But when riders like Küng and Ganna finish within 30s there, you could imagine a larger group going to the finish here, since there is still a distance to the finish. Maybe guys like Pogacar and/or Evenepoel could hold a gap, but otherwise things coming back together seems more likely.

 

[topcat]

That option not without reach I would say. Just 6m/s, but entering buttom of Po Valley - besides from N-W is perfect for "Po-gusts" in relation to riders' direction Ravenna - Faenza and Imola - Bologna flat stretches.
I wouldn't rule that scenario out.

Echelons about as likely as a long ranger from Vingo. I'm not ruling it in and I'm not ruling it out.

 

[Boehmand]

The whole break is over 15 minutes behind on GC, so DSM won't need to work hard to control it.

 

[RedheadDane]

Just bumped in after a nice challenging hilly ride myself.
First thing my eyes are displayed is Abrahamsen in early break.
Is he really without brakes on his bike?

I would hope not.
That sounds... unhealthy.

 

[tobydawq]

Oh, come on UAE or someone else!

 

[Samamba]

Are they really just gonna gift this one too

 

[Netserk]

DSM pacing too early. At least give them 10 minutes first.

 

[Boehmand]

Are they really just gonna gift this one too

DSM want's to save their riders for stage 4, and they don't need to work because everyone in the break is so far behind.

When the gap balloons to 7-8 minutes, UAE/Bora will be forced to take over if they want the stage win.