(Bologna) Kevin Vauquelin, thanks to his breakaway, ensured that there was a second consecutive French victory by winning the hilly stage to Bologna on Sunday at the Tour de France.
Quebecer Hugo Houle took the 9e rank, finishing 1 min 36 s behind the winner. The runner from Israel – Premier Tech occupies 61e rank in the general classification. His teammate Guillaume Boivin took 93e stage rank.
It only took two stages of the Grande Boucle to show that Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard are in a class of their own.
Pogacar attacked from the chasing pack until the second climb of San Luca and only Vingegaard was able to follow him.
The move helped Pogacar strip Frenchman Romain Bardet, the winner of the first stage, of the leader’s yellow jersey.
PHOTO DANIEL COLE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tadej Pogacar
Pogacar was crowned winner of the Tour de France in 2020 and 2021, before finishing second to Vingegaard in the last two rounds of the Tour.
Pogacar is aiming for the rare Giro-Tour de France double, after dominating the grand tour of Italy last month. Vingegaard had not competed in a race since a nasty fall in April. He had broken his collarbone and ribs and suffered a pneumothorax.
Aged 23, Vauquelin obtained his first career victory during a stage of one of the Grand Tours.
The first four stages of the Tour de France are being held in Italy for the first time.
The 199-kilometre route starting in Cesenatico featured six categorised climbs, including two climbs up to San Luca, before finishing in Bologna city centre.