Another successful and exciting day is behind Tadej at the 112th Tour de France. Already in the 2nd stage, the longest test was on the schedule, a 209.1-kilometer route from Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer. The peloton had to overcome 2,550 meters of elevation and also very challenging conditions, rain, wind, and narrow roads.
Tadej and his UAE Team Emirates – XRG team did excellently, he was constantly at the forefront in the undulating finish and finally sprinted against his great rival from the big one-day races, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin Deceuninck).
The Dutch ace was faster, thus celebrating his second stage victory at the Tour in his career, and he also donned the yellow leader’s jersey. »It was an exceptional stage, there was a bit of everything, rain, stress, hectic, danger, short climbs, like in a classic race. In the end, I felt good, we also raced well as a team, but in the end, Mathieu was stronger, chapeau to him, I am very satisfied with 2nd place,« said Tadej at the finish. He ends the opening weekend of the Tour also in 2nd place in the overall standings. He is four seconds behind van der Poel, and just two seconds in front of Jonas Vingegaard (Visma Lease a Bike), who also took 3rd place in today’s stage.
»It was a good day, although we wanted a stage win. I got a little scared in the last 200 meters and stayed behind Mathieu’s wheel. I should have started sprinting earlier, but it was still a good day. This weekend was motivational, we saw that the team is good, we worked well together and we had fun on the bikes. This will give us some extra confidence for the next stages,« continued Tadej, after putting on the polka dot jersey as the best in the mountain points.
»I have already won the polka dot jersey twice in the overall standings, but I think I only wore it for one day in six appearances at the Tour. Tomorrow I will wear it for the second time, if I counted correctly. I am looking forward to it, people like the polka dot jersey, it is a special feeling to wear this jersey,« Tadej added.
Tomorrow he faces the 3rd stage from Valenciennes to Dunkirk. In 178.3 kilometers, there will be only 800 meters of elevation, but it is expected that the last 35 kilometers after the only categorized climb on Côte de Cassel will be exposed to strong winds.