Van der Poel pips Pogacar in stage two sprint finish

In a sprint finish, Mathieu van der Poel won the Tour de France’s stage two and the leader’s yellow jersey.

The Dutchman, who also won the same stage in 2021, held off the Slovenian on the line after advancing 500 meters from Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer on the rolling 209.1km route, which is the longest stage in the Tour this year.

Oscar Onley, a two-time champion, came in sixth place while Jonas Vingegaard, a two-time champion, came in third place behind his great rival Pogacar.

The final [part] was “super difficult,” Van der Poel said, “and it was much harder than I had anticipated.”

“I was really motivated because I should have won a second stage of the Tour de France after winning my first one,” I thought. Although some people label me as a favorite, I believe I did a really good job of being there when I saw the riders who were ahead on the climbs.

The first two days are a dream for a team, and everything else is just a bonus.

A relatively uninteresting stage burst into life on three explosive climbs in the final 40 kilometers, splitting the field into three riders in a small field.

After the opening stage, French team Cofidis reported earlier on Sunday that 11 bikes had been taken from their team truck.

Despite the security measures in place, the team claimed that the equipment truck’s door was forced open and that their Look bikes were taken.

Each bike stolen is estimated to be worth around 13, 000 euros (£11, 200).

Cofidis stated that a police investigation was being conducted, and that they “strongly condemn this act of incivility” and “call on the” perpetrators to act with civility and responsibility.”

At least three bikes are typically on hand for each Tour participant, with their preferred one and two spares.

1. Nathaniel Van der Poel (Ned-Alpecin-Deceuninck) 4 hrs 45 minutes 41 secs

2. Same time as Tadej Pogacar (Slo-UA Team Emirates).

3. Jens Vingegaard (Den-Visma-Lease a Bike)

4. (Fra-Groupama-FDJ) Roumain Gregoire

5. – Tudor Julian Alaphilippe

6. Oscar Onley (GB-Picnic PostNL)

7. French-Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team Aurélien Paret-Peintre

8. Kevin Vauquelin (B&amp, B Hotels, Arkea)

9. Simone Velasco (XDS Astana)

1. Mattieu Van der Poel (Ned-Alpecin-Deceuninck) 8 hrs 38 minutes 42 secs

2. + 4 seconds for Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG).

3. + 6 seconds Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike).

4. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&amp, B Hotels), + 10secs

5. Same time Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike),

6. Enric Mas (Spa-Movistar)

7. Jasper Philipsen (Bel, Alpecin, Deceuninck) + 31 secs

8. Joseph Blackmore (GB, Israel, Premier Tech) + 41secs

9. Same time as Tobias Halland Johannessen (Nor-Uno-X Mobility).