June 29, 2024
The Tour continues it is keep in Italy with a punchy finale into Bologna
Date: Sunday June 30, 2024
Distance: 199km
Begin location: Cesenatico
End location: Bologna
Begin time: 12:15 CET
End time (approx): 17:06 CET
Memorials to Marco Pantani stay a standard characteristic of the Giro d’Italia, the place just about yearly there may be a minimum of one stage that honours his reminiscence. Now, as stage two departs from his hometown of Cesenatico, it’s an opportunity for the Tour de France to replicate upon his complicated legacy.
Il Pirata is after all a beloved determine in his dwelling nation for his beautiful exploits within the mountains, as mirrored within the hanging statue of him that proudly overlooks the Adriatic coast on the outskirts of Cesenatico, regardless of the doping scandal that overshadowed his profession. Previous to the optimistic take a look at that pressured him to go away the 1999 Giro d’Italia and miss the next Tour de France, he’d already left his indelible mark on the Tour. He’s turn out to be synonymous with the race’s most well-known climb, Alpe d’Huez, which he gained two phases on, and to this present day, holds the file for the quickest ever ascent, but in addition launched well-known victorious assaults on two of the most important mountains on this 12 months’s route, Plateau de Beille and Col du Galibier, on his option to general victory in 1998. If that was the excessive of his Tour de France profession, his return in 2000 (simply 4 years earlier than his tragic dying) was a extra ambivalent affair, because the vulnerabilities and sensitivities of his character performed out in a feud with Lance Armstrong, whom he angrily tried to punish with assaults for the perceived slight of gifting him a victory on Mont Ventoux.
Like stage one, stage two’s route options loads of climbs, however solely quick, punchy hills, reasonably than the type that mountain goats like Pantani would savour. The important thing climb can be San Luca, a brief (1.9km) however very steep (10.6%) effort that can be tackled twice inside the ultimate 33km, and acquainted to many within the peloton because the climax of the autumnal Giro d’Emilia Traditional. Primož Roglič has particularly fond reminiscences of it, not solely successful that Traditional on three separate events, but in addition triumphing in a time trial that includes a climb on the 2019 Giro d’Italia Grande Partenza.
Not like the Giro d’Emilia, this stage gained’t end on the prime of San Luca, however 13km away from its second ascent, which can discourage the likes of Roglič and different GC contenders to strive an assault on. As an alternative, punchy stage hunters are sure to make strikes; the query is whether or not they can get a large enough hole to make it to the end in Bologna, or if all the things will come again collectively for a dash? And within the case of the latter, what number of sprinters can be left, and what number of may have been distanced on the climb?
Route profile sourced through ASO
Contenders
Stage one ended up proving as unpredictable as first thought after DSM-Firmenich-PostNL teammates Frank van den Broek and Romain Bardet surged up the street to take the stage win and the yellow jersey, and stage two appears like a equally robust stage to name.
The San Luca climb is brutally robust ascent and far nearer to the end than stage one’s closing climb, which means there’s a half-chance of seeing some GC motion, significantly from Tadej Pogačar (UAE Crew Emirates) and Primož Roglič (Pink Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), who thrive on steep inclines like this. However with so many robust phases to come back, together with the primary correct mountain stage on Tuesday, the general contenders might wish to hold their powder dry.
Due to this fact it may very well be an opportunity for the punchy stage hunters. Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) confirmed some spectacular type on stage one, however he will not be allowed the leeway to assault and as a substitute must hope it comes right down to a lowered bunch dash.
Alberto Bettiol (EF Schooling-EasyPost) can be eager to attempt to take a victory within the Italian nationwide champion’s jersey on dwelling soil, and has confirmed glorious type heading into the race. He definitely has the engine to carry off chasers, however might lack the firepower to lose the climbers within the first place over the climb. His teammate Ben Healy is an alternative choice for the American group too.
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) definitely does have the firepower to drop nearly anyone when he desires to, however he may additionally wish to maintain again for future phases and was good to his phrase when he stated stage one was too exhausting for him (a lot to this predictor’s chagrin).
People who go effectively within the Ardennes Classics might fancy their possibilities right here. Maxim van Gils (Lotto-Dstny), Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), Paul Lapeira (Decathlon-Ag2r La Mondiale), Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ), are all potential attackers on the ultimate climb.
Stage two winner prediction
We predict Maxim van Gils will take victory on stage two of the Tour de France.