The Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel won the second stage of the Tour de France and thus brought the yellow jersey.
In a gripping final after 209.1 km between Lauwin-Planque and Boulogne-sur-Mer on the English Channel, the ex-world champion from Team Alpecin-Deceuninck prevailed in front of the incumbent world champion and tour defender Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia/UAE Team Emirates XRG).
The German hope of Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) had attacked the longest part of the longest section of the 112nd tour of France, but could not hold the pace.
The third stage leads over 178.3 km from Valenciennes to Dunkirk on the canal coast on Monday.