Hugo Houle (Israel – Premier Tech) hosted the show on Sunday during the second stage of the Tour de France by venturing into the breakaway at the start of the day. The 10 cyclists in this group remained together until the first of the two loops of the final circuit where two climbs of the imposing San Luca hill were on the program.
The Norwegian Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) and the Frenchman Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa – B & B Hotels) finally stood out from the pack, until Vauquelin went solo 14 km from the finish. The Frenchman signs the first stage victory of his career at the Tour de France. This is also the first success for the Arkéa – B & B Hotels team on the Grande Boucle.
PHOTO THOMAS SAMSON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Kevin Vauquelin
Abrahamsen, holder of the best climber jersey, crossed the finish line in second place (+36 s), while Frenchman Quentin Pacher (Groupama – FDJ) finished third (+49 s).
For his part, Houle once again demonstrated all his fighting spirit in the final climbs by returning to the leading group on a few occasions after being briefly dropped. He finally finished ninth (+1 min 39 s) in this stage, the fourth best result of his career in the Tour.
“My mission was to be in the breakaway and I’m happy to have taken the right one. We had a good group that was able to get a good lead over the peloton. I knew I had a good chance of making it to the end. There were big percentages in the climb of San Luca and my legs were not responding, I managed to come back, but it was then that three riders, including Vauquelin, escaped for good,” explained Hugo Houle .
“Perhaps I would have liked to go to the top 5but I’m happy to have gone all the way with the breakaway from the second stage. I think my form will improve more and more in the coming days. I’m not a guy who gives up easily, I fight all the time, that’s what makes me strong and I want to keep that spirit,” he added.
The heat was once again there on Sunday on the Italian roads, which however never made Houle doubt.
“It was hot and, on top of that, we often had strong headwinds. It was a little better than yesterday. [samedi]but it was once again very difficult. Nothing to stop me from fighting, however, once in the breakaway, I wanted to give it my all,” said the man who was able to collect a point in the best climbers ranking during the day.
Guillaume Boivin, also from the Israel – Premier Tech team, concluded this second stage at 93e echelon.
Things are moving in the provisional general classification as the Frenchman Romain Bardet (dsm-firmenich PostNL) cedes the yellow leader’s jersey to the Slovenian Tadej Pogačar (UAE Emirates), 14e of the day. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step), Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Richard Carapaz (EF Education – EasyPost), however, all have the same time as Pogačar.
PHOTO DANIEL COLE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tadej Pogacar
The third stage of the Tour de France will be held this Monday, once again on the Italian side, between Plaisance and Turin, over 230.8 km.
“It will be a stage mainly on the flat, I will give a helping hand to my teammates who will aim for victory, but it will also be an opportunity for me to rest a little more, that’s for sure,” concluded the cyclist from Sainte-Perpétue.