Cycling: After his stage win today, Julian Alaphilippe will be wearing the yellow jersey tomorrow. It is quite possible that the French world champion will win another stage straight away.
The Wall of Brittany
The second day of the 108th Tour de France is also not for pure sprinters. The 183,5 km section from Perros-Guirec to Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan almost reminds of the Flèche Wallonne. After today's start with 5 mountain classifications, there will be 6 tomorrow. The highlight is of course the Wall of Brittany, which has to be completed twice. It is 2,0 kilometers long and has an average gradient of 6,8 percent. The middle section in particular has it all, because there sections of over 12,0 percent stand in the way of the pros. Again, we therefore see the puncheur at an advantage. The fight for the mountain jersey will also continue and ensure movement in the breakaway group.
The key moments of the 2st stage
- Sharp start in Perros-Guirec at 13:20
- Mountain classification 4th category: Côte de Sainte-Barbe (0,9 km a 6,6%) 110,7 km / 72,8 km
- Sprint classification: Plouha 98,5 km / 85,0 km
- Mountain classification 4th category: Côte de Pordic (2,1 km a 3,2%) 80,3 km / 103,2 km
- Mountain classification 4th category: Côte de Saint-Brieuc (1,0 km a 8,0%) 68,2 km / 115,3 km
- Mountain classification 4th category: Côte du village de Mûr-de-Bretagne (1,6 km a 4,1%) 18,3 km / 165,2 km
- Category 3 mountains: Mûr-de-Bretagne & bonus sprint (2,0 km a 6,9%) 15,3 km / 168,2 km
- Category 3 mountains: Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan (2,0 km a 6,9%) 0,0 km / 183,5 km
- Arrival at the Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan between 17:30 and 18:00
Velomotion forecast: Alaphilippe lies the wall of Brittany
Three years ago, a stage of the Tour de France ended on the Wall de Bretagne. At that time, Dan Martin won the section. But in the form in which Julian Alaphilippe presented today, there is no way around it. The French world champion likes toxic, short climbs and will be riding more carefully than ever tomorrow. He has to reckon with resistance from Mathieu van der Poel in particular, but Dan Martin and other classification drivers such as Primoz Roglic and Tadej Pogacar should not be underestimated either. Perhaps Michael Matthews will also manage a somewhat surprising victory. Today the Australian was right at the front as second in the stage. So its shape seems to fit.
☆☆☆ Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck – Quick Step)
☆☆ Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin – Fenix), Michael Matthews (BikeExchange)
☆ Dan Martin (Israel Start-Up Nation), Tadej Pogacar (UAE), Primoz Roglic (Jumbo – Visma)