Mathieu van der Poel takes Tour de France yellow jersey with stage two sprint
Van der Poel took the race leader's yellow jersey from his Alpecin–Deceuninck teammate Jasper Philipsen in a second career stage victory on the Tour.
Neither rider is considered an overall contender.
"It was super difficult, the finale was harder than I thought. But I was really motivated," Van der Poel said.
"Finally, four years after my first [stage] win, it was about time I took a second one. It's also the second time I'm rewarded with the yellow jersey as well, so I guess it was worth the wait."
He intends to wear yellow a little longer yet.
"I hope I can keep the jersey until the time trial [on Wednesday]," Van der Poel said.
"[After that] it will be very hard."
Stage two was delayed by about 15 minutes after team buses arrived late to their parking spots because of heavy morning rain.
Fans lined the roads wearing raincoats and riders wore light jackets amid wet and blustery conditions on the slightly hilly 209 kilometre (130 mile) trek from Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France.
The longest trek of this year's race featured about 4 kilometres of climbing suited to all-rounders like the three-time Paris-Roubaix classic winner Van der Poel and former cyclo-cross star Wout van Aert.
Greasy roads increased the risk of spills and a strong headwind greeted riders approaching the finish as they took on the day's three consecutive climbs — short and sharp but very modest ones compared to the giant Alpine and Pyrenean ascents later in the three-week race.
None of the main Tour contenders could launch a decisive attack, although Vingegaard tried with 5 kilometres left.
Instead, it was Van der Poel — nicknamed "The Flying Dutchman" — who surged clear and then withstood Pogačar's late burst, having also beaten the Slovenian star at Paris-Roubaix in April.
Van der Poel crossed the line in 4 hours, 45 minutes, 41 seconds with Pogačar in second place and Vingegaard in third recording the same time.
Pogačar misjudged his attack, a rare mistake for him.
"Mathieu was stronger in the final sprint, so chapeau to him," Pogačar said.
"To be honest I messed up a little bit, because I got a bit scared to sprint against him and I waited too long on his wheel."
In the overall standings, Pogačar is four seconds behind Van der Poel.
Vingegaard is another two seconds back.
Jack Haig was the best of the Australians, finishing 31 seconds back in 36th.
Ben O'Connor remains the best-placed Australian overall, in 10th position, 41 seconds off the lead.
Four-time Spanish Vuelta winner Primož Roglič — the 2020 Tour runner-up from Slovenia — and double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel had both lost time on Saturday after being caught in a late crosswind.
They did not lose further time Sunday to Pogačar and Vingegaard, who enters this year's Tour in better shape.
Last year, the Dane had barely recovered from a heavy race crash in Spain that left him with a collapsed lung, several broken ribs and a broken collarbone.
He finished the Tour in second place but could not match Pogačar in big climbs.
The 30-year-old Van der Poel was born in Belgium and shot to fame as a multiple cyclo-cross world champion before turning his sights to one-day classics and stage racing.
Cycling runs in the family.
His father Adri was also a cyclo-cross world champion and Van der Poel's maternal grandfather was the late French cyclist Raymond Poulidor.
Poulidor took part in 14 Tours from 1962-76, finishing in second place overall three times and third five times.
Nicknamed "Poupou" and "The Eternal Runner-up," Poulidor was adored by French fans.
Stage three is a flat stage for sprinters, 178.3 kilometres from Valenciennes to the coastal city of Dunkerque.
This race is entirely in France, with no stages held abroad as in previous years, and ends July 27 in Paris.
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ABC News
7 hours ago
- ABC News
Mathieu van der Poel takes Tour de France yellow jersey with stage two sprint
Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel won the hilly second stage of the Tour de France on Sunday after holding off defending champion Tadej Pogačar and two-time winner Jonas Vingegaard in a sprint to the line. Van der Poel took the race leader's yellow jersey from his Alpecin–Deceuninck teammate Jasper Philipsen in a second career stage victory on the Tour. Neither rider is considered an overall contender. "It was super difficult, the finale was harder than I thought. But I was really motivated," Van der Poel said. "Finally, four years after my first [stage] win, it was about time I took a second one. It's also the second time I'm rewarded with the yellow jersey as well, so I guess it was worth the wait." He intends to wear yellow a little longer yet. "I hope I can keep the jersey until the time trial [on Wednesday]," Van der Poel said. "[After that] it will be very hard." Stage two was delayed by about 15 minutes after team buses arrived late to their parking spots because of heavy morning rain. Fans lined the roads wearing raincoats and riders wore light jackets amid wet and blustery conditions on the slightly hilly 209 kilometre (130 mile) trek from Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France. The longest trek of this year's race featured about 4 kilometres of climbing suited to all-rounders like the three-time Paris-Roubaix classic winner Van der Poel and former cyclo-cross star Wout van Aert. Greasy roads increased the risk of spills and a strong headwind greeted riders approaching the finish as they took on the day's three consecutive climbs — short and sharp but very modest ones compared to the giant Alpine and Pyrenean ascents later in the three-week race. None of the main Tour contenders could launch a decisive attack, although Vingegaard tried with 5 kilometres left. Instead, it was Van der Poel — nicknamed "The Flying Dutchman" — who surged clear and then withstood Pogačar's late burst, having also beaten the Slovenian star at Paris-Roubaix in April. Van der Poel crossed the line in 4 hours, 45 minutes, 41 seconds with Pogačar in second place and Vingegaard in third recording the same time. Pogačar misjudged his attack, a rare mistake for him. "Mathieu was stronger in the final sprint, so chapeau to him," Pogačar said. "To be honest I messed up a little bit, because I got a bit scared to sprint against him and I waited too long on his wheel." In the overall standings, Pogačar is four seconds behind Van der Poel. Vingegaard is another two seconds back. Jack Haig was the best of the Australians, finishing 31 seconds back in 36th. Ben O'Connor remains the best-placed Australian overall, in 10th position, 41 seconds off the lead. Four-time Spanish Vuelta winner Primož Roglič — the 2020 Tour runner-up from Slovenia — and double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel had both lost time on Saturday after being caught in a late crosswind. They did not lose further time Sunday to Pogačar and Vingegaard, who enters this year's Tour in better shape. Last year, the Dane had barely recovered from a heavy race crash in Spain that left him with a collapsed lung, several broken ribs and a broken collarbone. He finished the Tour in second place but could not match Pogačar in big climbs. The 30-year-old Van der Poel was born in Belgium and shot to fame as a multiple cyclo-cross world champion before turning his sights to one-day classics and stage racing. Cycling runs in the family. His father Adri was also a cyclo-cross world champion and Van der Poel's maternal grandfather was the late French cyclist Raymond Poulidor. Poulidor took part in 14 Tours from 1962-76, finishing in second place overall three times and third five times. Nicknamed "Poupou" and "The Eternal Runner-up," Poulidor was adored by French fans. Stage three is a flat stage for sprinters, 178.3 kilometres from Valenciennes to the coastal city of Dunkerque. This race is entirely in France, with no stages held abroad as in previous years, and ends July 27 in Paris. AP/ABC
The Advertiser
10 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Van der Poel edges out Pogacar to claim yellow jersey
Mathieu van der Poel has pipped Tadej Pogacar to victory on the second stage of the Tour de France to take the yellow jersey from his Alpecin-Deceuninck team-mate Jasper Philipsen. Van der Poel edged an uphill sprint from overall favourites Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard before collapsing to the ground in Boulogne-sur-Mer, the end point of the hard-fought 209km stage from Lauwin-Planque, the longest of this year's Tour. It was the Dutchman's second career Tour stage win, and the second to bring him yellow after his win on the Mur-de-Bretagne in 2021, when he held it for six days. Van der Poel delivered on his status as favourite for a classics-style stage on Sunday that came down to the final three climbs of a rolling day across northern France. A series of attacks split the peloton into pieces and set up a ferocious battle up the short, steep rise to the line. Former world champion Julian Alaphilippe was the first to launch a major dig but Van der Poel and Pogacar were quickly on to his wheel, waiting for the finish line to come into view with a little over 100 metres to go. When Van der Poel opened the taps Pogacar responded but the world champion could not come around the man who wore the rainbows before him. "It was super difficult, the final, harder than I thought," Van der Poel said. "I was really motivated because it's been four years since I won my first stage on the Tour de France so it was about time I won a second one. Of course people put me as a favourite but if you see the riders that were in front on the climbs, I think I did a really good job to be there... "It's a dream for a team, these first two days, and everything that comes now is just a bonus." Van der Poel leads by four seconds from Pogacar, with Vingegaard a further two seconds back after bonus seconds were applied. Pogacar took the king of the mountains jersey, almost accidentally, as he led the group over the penultimate climb of the Cote de Saint-Etienne-au-Mont. Philipsen had been distanced on the Cote d'Outreau, the last categorised climb of the day, coming home 31 seconds down to hand the jersey to his Alpecin-Deceuninck team-mate. The start of the stage was held up by 15 minutes as teams were delayed getting to Lauwin-Planque in some miserable weather, but the sun eventually came out as the race heated up. Vingegaard, so active in Saturday's crosswinds, again looked spritely with the two-time Tour winner the first to push on as they came over the Cote d'Outreau to ensure it would be a selective finish. This time Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic stuck with the front group, but the Ineos Grenadiers' Carlos Rodriguez lost 31 seconds. The highest placed Australian was Bahrain Victorious rider Jack Haig, who was 36th. Compatriot Ben O'Connor was 43rd with Harry Sweeney 49th and Kaden Groves just outside the top 50 in 53rd. O'Connor, of Team Jayco AlUla, Australia's main classification hope, is up to 10th in the overall standings. Haig is 32nd. Monday brings a flat stage for sprinters, 178.3km from Valenciennes to the coastal city of Dunkerque. Mathieu van der Poel has pipped Tadej Pogacar to victory on the second stage of the Tour de France to take the yellow jersey from his Alpecin-Deceuninck team-mate Jasper Philipsen. Van der Poel edged an uphill sprint from overall favourites Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard before collapsing to the ground in Boulogne-sur-Mer, the end point of the hard-fought 209km stage from Lauwin-Planque, the longest of this year's Tour. It was the Dutchman's second career Tour stage win, and the second to bring him yellow after his win on the Mur-de-Bretagne in 2021, when he held it for six days. Van der Poel delivered on his status as favourite for a classics-style stage on Sunday that came down to the final three climbs of a rolling day across northern France. A series of attacks split the peloton into pieces and set up a ferocious battle up the short, steep rise to the line. Former world champion Julian Alaphilippe was the first to launch a major dig but Van der Poel and Pogacar were quickly on to his wheel, waiting for the finish line to come into view with a little over 100 metres to go. When Van der Poel opened the taps Pogacar responded but the world champion could not come around the man who wore the rainbows before him. "It was super difficult, the final, harder than I thought," Van der Poel said. "I was really motivated because it's been four years since I won my first stage on the Tour de France so it was about time I won a second one. Of course people put me as a favourite but if you see the riders that were in front on the climbs, I think I did a really good job to be there... "It's a dream for a team, these first two days, and everything that comes now is just a bonus." Van der Poel leads by four seconds from Pogacar, with Vingegaard a further two seconds back after bonus seconds were applied. Pogacar took the king of the mountains jersey, almost accidentally, as he led the group over the penultimate climb of the Cote de Saint-Etienne-au-Mont. Philipsen had been distanced on the Cote d'Outreau, the last categorised climb of the day, coming home 31 seconds down to hand the jersey to his Alpecin-Deceuninck team-mate. The start of the stage was held up by 15 minutes as teams were delayed getting to Lauwin-Planque in some miserable weather, but the sun eventually came out as the race heated up. Vingegaard, so active in Saturday's crosswinds, again looked spritely with the two-time Tour winner the first to push on as they came over the Cote d'Outreau to ensure it would be a selective finish. This time Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic stuck with the front group, but the Ineos Grenadiers' Carlos Rodriguez lost 31 seconds. The highest placed Australian was Bahrain Victorious rider Jack Haig, who was 36th. Compatriot Ben O'Connor was 43rd with Harry Sweeney 49th and Kaden Groves just outside the top 50 in 53rd. O'Connor, of Team Jayco AlUla, Australia's main classification hope, is up to 10th in the overall standings. Haig is 32nd. Monday brings a flat stage for sprinters, 178.3km from Valenciennes to the coastal city of Dunkerque. Mathieu van der Poel has pipped Tadej Pogacar to victory on the second stage of the Tour de France to take the yellow jersey from his Alpecin-Deceuninck team-mate Jasper Philipsen. Van der Poel edged an uphill sprint from overall favourites Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard before collapsing to the ground in Boulogne-sur-Mer, the end point of the hard-fought 209km stage from Lauwin-Planque, the longest of this year's Tour. It was the Dutchman's second career Tour stage win, and the second to bring him yellow after his win on the Mur-de-Bretagne in 2021, when he held it for six days. Van der Poel delivered on his status as favourite for a classics-style stage on Sunday that came down to the final three climbs of a rolling day across northern France. A series of attacks split the peloton into pieces and set up a ferocious battle up the short, steep rise to the line. Former world champion Julian Alaphilippe was the first to launch a major dig but Van der Poel and Pogacar were quickly on to his wheel, waiting for the finish line to come into view with a little over 100 metres to go. When Van der Poel opened the taps Pogacar responded but the world champion could not come around the man who wore the rainbows before him. "It was super difficult, the final, harder than I thought," Van der Poel said. "I was really motivated because it's been four years since I won my first stage on the Tour de France so it was about time I won a second one. Of course people put me as a favourite but if you see the riders that were in front on the climbs, I think I did a really good job to be there... "It's a dream for a team, these first two days, and everything that comes now is just a bonus." Van der Poel leads by four seconds from Pogacar, with Vingegaard a further two seconds back after bonus seconds were applied. Pogacar took the king of the mountains jersey, almost accidentally, as he led the group over the penultimate climb of the Cote de Saint-Etienne-au-Mont. Philipsen had been distanced on the Cote d'Outreau, the last categorised climb of the day, coming home 31 seconds down to hand the jersey to his Alpecin-Deceuninck team-mate. The start of the stage was held up by 15 minutes as teams were delayed getting to Lauwin-Planque in some miserable weather, but the sun eventually came out as the race heated up. Vingegaard, so active in Saturday's crosswinds, again looked spritely with the two-time Tour winner the first to push on as they came over the Cote d'Outreau to ensure it would be a selective finish. This time Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic stuck with the front group, but the Ineos Grenadiers' Carlos Rodriguez lost 31 seconds. The highest placed Australian was Bahrain Victorious rider Jack Haig, who was 36th. Compatriot Ben O'Connor was 43rd with Harry Sweeney 49th and Kaden Groves just outside the top 50 in 53rd. O'Connor, of Team Jayco AlUla, Australia's main classification hope, is up to 10th in the overall standings. Haig is 32nd. Monday brings a flat stage for sprinters, 178.3km from Valenciennes to the coastal city of Dunkerque. Mathieu van der Poel has pipped Tadej Pogacar to victory on the second stage of the Tour de France to take the yellow jersey from his Alpecin-Deceuninck team-mate Jasper Philipsen. Van der Poel edged an uphill sprint from overall favourites Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard before collapsing to the ground in Boulogne-sur-Mer, the end point of the hard-fought 209km stage from Lauwin-Planque, the longest of this year's Tour. It was the Dutchman's second career Tour stage win, and the second to bring him yellow after his win on the Mur-de-Bretagne in 2021, when he held it for six days. Van der Poel delivered on his status as favourite for a classics-style stage on Sunday that came down to the final three climbs of a rolling day across northern France. A series of attacks split the peloton into pieces and set up a ferocious battle up the short, steep rise to the line. Former world champion Julian Alaphilippe was the first to launch a major dig but Van der Poel and Pogacar were quickly on to his wheel, waiting for the finish line to come into view with a little over 100 metres to go. When Van der Poel opened the taps Pogacar responded but the world champion could not come around the man who wore the rainbows before him. "It was super difficult, the final, harder than I thought," Van der Poel said. "I was really motivated because it's been four years since I won my first stage on the Tour de France so it was about time I won a second one. Of course people put me as a favourite but if you see the riders that were in front on the climbs, I think I did a really good job to be there... "It's a dream for a team, these first two days, and everything that comes now is just a bonus." Van der Poel leads by four seconds from Pogacar, with Vingegaard a further two seconds back after bonus seconds were applied. Pogacar took the king of the mountains jersey, almost accidentally, as he led the group over the penultimate climb of the Cote de Saint-Etienne-au-Mont. Philipsen had been distanced on the Cote d'Outreau, the last categorised climb of the day, coming home 31 seconds down to hand the jersey to his Alpecin-Deceuninck team-mate. The start of the stage was held up by 15 minutes as teams were delayed getting to Lauwin-Planque in some miserable weather, but the sun eventually came out as the race heated up. Vingegaard, so active in Saturday's crosswinds, again looked spritely with the two-time Tour winner the first to push on as they came over the Cote d'Outreau to ensure it would be a selective finish. This time Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic stuck with the front group, but the Ineos Grenadiers' Carlos Rodriguez lost 31 seconds. The highest placed Australian was Bahrain Victorious rider Jack Haig, who was 36th. Compatriot Ben O'Connor was 43rd with Harry Sweeney 49th and Kaden Groves just outside the top 50 in 53rd. O'Connor, of Team Jayco AlUla, Australia's main classification hope, is up to 10th in the overall standings. Haig is 32nd. Monday brings a flat stage for sprinters, 178.3km from Valenciennes to the coastal city of Dunkerque.
SBS Australia
10 hours ago
- SBS Australia
One plus one equals two for Alpecin Deceuninck (Stage 2)
Stage two of the 2025 Tour de France was a wet and wild affair, with rain hammering the peloton from the start. Christophe, Macka, and Caleb Ewan captured the grit and unpredictability of the day, reflecting on how extreme weather tested both nerves and legs across the longest stage of the race. The mood shifted as the skies cleared late in the day, setting up a high-speed sprint finish. Caleb noted how certain riders seemed unfazed by the chaos, gliding through the finale with calm precision, while others were clearly feeling the toll of two gruelling days. It's been two days in a row where I'm happy I wasn't riding because they set off for the longest stage in heavy rain. Caleb Ewan Teamwork and adaptability were central themes of the day, as riders juggled survival and support roles in the tough conditions. With stage three on the horizon and a flatter profile ahead, the team looked forward to a classic sprinters' showdown—if the weather holds.
