Cycling: The 2025 Tour de France will be just two days old tomorrow – and top favorite Tadej Pogacar could already claim the yellow jersey. The Puncheurs will fight it out for the stage victory on the second stage – at least that's our Velomotion prediction.
Two hills decide the second stage of the 2025 Tour de France
After the spectacular start to the 2025 Tour de France Another spectacle awaits us on day two. The 209,1-kilometer section from Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer is likely to be a challenge for the punchers. After a leisurely start, the stage profile becomes increasingly challenging. There are even two climbs in the final ten kilometers. The Saint-Étienne-au-Mont is 1,1 kilometers long and has an average gradient of 9,4 percent. This hill is followed by the Côte d'Outreau, which is 800 meters long and has an 8,0 percent gradient. A sprint royale is therefore out of the question.
Velomotion prediction: Van der Poel versus Pogacar?
A touch of Milan-Sanremo at the Tour de France: The second stage, with two small hills at the end of the race, is reminiscent of the Poggio and the Cipressa – but only slightly. The characteristics of these hills are quite different. Nevertheless, we expect the same riders at the front. Team UAE – XRG will be going full throttle into the final climbs of the day, and all competitors will have to keep up. Tadej pogacar will then launch an attack, probably together with Mathieu van der Poel. The question then arises whether the two professionals can pull away or whether other riders can catch up. Riders with outside chances include the French Romain Gregoire and Kevin Vauquelin, both of whom have already proven that they are good at poisonous hills.
*** Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin – Deceuninck)
** Tadej pogacar (UAE – XRG), Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea – B&B Hotels)
* Magnus Court (Uno-X Mobility), Axel Laurance (Ineos Grenadiers), Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl – Trek)