78
14:09
First climb of the day
So we are approaching the first mountain classification of the day. It is in a third category. The increase is given as 4.6 kilometers – with a gradient of 5.1 percent. Points are awarded for two riders at the top of the Col d’Udana. So they make up the gamblers among themselves. Resistance for Nelson Powless is not expected.
74
14:06
Unchanged situation
Now Team Jayco Alula and Jumbo-Visma join the front, but still let UAE take the initiative at the top. The distance to the three outliers is a little under five minutes.
69
13:56
Numerous winners of San Sebastián
Some of the current tour participants know the streets around San Sebastián very well and have good memories. Not only Neilson Powless has already won the Clásica San Sebastián (2021). Julian Alaphilippe (2018), Michał Kwiatkowski (2017), Adam Yates (2015), Tony Gallopin (2013) and Luis León Sánchez (2010, 2012) have also celebrated victories in this World Tour race.
65
13:52
Almost five minutes
In this phase, the lead increases again. The escape trio’s balance is gradually moving towards five minutes. And those are dimensions that require a lot more energy in the peloton to catch up. But so far no team has come forward to help the UAE boys.
61
1:47 p.m
UAE is calling the shots in the peloton
In the peloton, UAE Team Emirates remains in control. In almost complete team strength, the troop drives at the top. The last link in the chain is Tadej Pogačar in the white jersey of the best young rider. The Slovenian master’s people do a lot of work.
57
13:43
Drive through the Basque Country
By the way, today’s journey mainly leads roughly in a north-easterly direction through the Spanish Basque Country. This is how you approach the north coast of Spain. San Sebastián is located on the Atlantic Ocean, more precisely on the Bay of Biscay.
53
13:39
Powless virtual in yellow
But the trio is still ahead. And why shouldn’t it be like this until the end. In that case, Neilson Powless would also have a chance at the Maillot Jaune in addition to the mountain jersey. The American is 46th in the overall classification, 1:42 minutes behind, is the best-placed of the three fugitives and is virtually wearing yellow. Edvald Boasson Hagen is almost ten minutes behind and Rémi Cavagna is more than eleven minutes behind. So these two are out of the question for Yellow.
49
13:36
Stable lead
The time gap between the top group and the main field is now quite constant at just under four and a half minutes. The teams at the back don’t want to concede much more to the escapees in order to have the chance to move something towards the end of the stage and keep their chances of winning the day.
46
13:34
46.1 kilometers
Incidentally, 46.1 kilometers were covered during the first hour of racing. This puts us ahead of the fastest specified cut, which would indicate a finish shortly after 5 p.m.
43
13:31
Virtually no change on the green
In the battle for green, Adam Yates stays ahead, followed by brother Simon and Tadej Pogačar. Only then does one of the currently active point collectors appear. Jasper Philipsen is nine points behind the jersey. A little behind lurks Edvald Boasson Hagen. Only when you reach the finish line will there possibly be movement.
40
13:24
Sprint for the other points
About four and a half minutes after the escapees, there is a fierce fight for the remaining points. Jasper Philipsen scored 13 points – maybe one tire size ahead of Sam Welsford (11 points). They are followed by Bryan Coquard (10), Biniam Girmay (9), Mads Pedersen (8), Mark Cavandish (7), Dylan Groenewegen (6), Alexander Kristoff (5), Jordi Meeus (4), Peter Sagan (3), Jonas Abrahamsen (2) and Caleb Ewan (1).
40
13:18
Legutio
The guys in the escape group don’t want to fight seriously. Edvald Boasson Hagen is the first to drive through the intermediate sprint and collects 20 points and 1,500 euros for the TotalEnergies team fund. Second is Rémi Cavagna (17 points, 1,000 euros) ahead of Neilson Powless (15, 500).
37
13:15
First interim evaluation is approaching
Now we are approaching the intermediate sprint in Leguito. Since there are points for 15 drivers, there are of course also interests in the main field. The contenders for the green jersey are therefore challenged.
33
13:11
The lead is growing
After us, the breakaways are allowed to do their thing, which is why their lead has now grown to well over four minutes. The situation has stabilized in such a way that it will last for long stretches of the day. The trio will do most of the interim rankings among themselves.
30
13:05
Triple stage winner
That leaves Edvald Boasson Hagen. The Norwegian has the greatest merits of the three fugitives and is taking part in the Great Loop through France for the 13th time. Three stage wins jumped out of it. The 36-year-old was Vice World Champion in 2012. Successes have become rarer in recent years. The Scandinavian celebrated the last notable victory as the winner of the day at the Critérium du Dauphiné 2019.
27
13:01
Cavagna strong in the time trial
Rémi Cavagna unites the French hopes. The 27-year-old is only doing his second tour after 2020. At the 2019 Vuelta, the Frenchman won a stage, is also considered a strong time trialist and is currently the French champion again in this discipline. In the road race, Cavagna also won the French title (2022).
24
12:56
Powless already victorious in San Sebastián
At this point, let’s take a closer look at Neilson Powless. The American is on his fourth tour, was there for the first time in 2020 and was twelfth overall twelve months ago. Of the Grand Tours, the 26-year-old has only contested the 2019 Vuelta. By far his greatest success is the victory at the Clásica San Sebastián 2021. So the man has very fond memories of the roads of the Basque Country and today’s destination.
21
12:52
jersey prospects
So Neilson Powless did everything right. The man in mountain jersey is at the forefront and is positioning himself brilliantly to claim the polka dot textile. His two companions are still without points in this rating. In the fight for green, all three are still without points, so the upcoming intermediate sprint will not be enough to virtually drive into the sprinter jersey. In this respect, the flight would have to last until the finish.
18
12:49 p.m
UAE controls the field
The lead of the escapees quickly increases to one and a half minutes. In the peloton, the men from UAE Team Emirates control what’s happening, that’s Tadej Pogačar’s boys.
15
12:44
situation stable
There was just one counterattack, and the action in the main field, which spreads out over the entire width of the street, has calmed down. There’s not much speed in there, you let the three breakaways do as they please.
13.
12:42 p.m
trio ahead
In fact, Powless has now hopped away, bringing along Edvald Boasson Hagen and Rémi Cavagna. These three pedalers are gaining a little more ground. Should that have been it?
8th.
12:38 p.m
Nobody’s leaving yet
And so the field rolls up again. So there must be numerous other attacks. Georg Zimmermann is quite far ahead, so he shows serious interest in getting back into the group of the day. But of course Neilson Powless also knows that he has to be there again if he wants to defend his mountain jersey.
6.
12:35 p.m
Continue unrest
A notable gap has not yet opened up. Interested parties keep jumping away, trying to find a connection to the future. But the peloton follows. One is still not satisfied with the composition at the back.
3.
12:34
First attacks
As expected, movement comes in immediately. Numerous drivers try to form the group of the day.
1.
12:32
Sharp start
Christian Prudhomme has long been looking out of the roof hatch of his vehicle and initially asked for patience. Stan Dewulf apparently had a tire defect and first had to reconnect. At that moment, the Director of the Tour de France waves a yellow flag to allow the race to start. For the 174 remaining professionals, the seriousness of cycling begins.
12:15 p.m
The field rolls
The field of drivers has just started to move. In neutralized driving, it is now about ten minutes through the streets of Vitoria-Gasteiz, the capital of the Basque Country. The tour is only a guest here for the second time, after being the start and finish point of a stage in 1977.
12:08 p.m
German accents
The best German yesterday was Emanuel Buchmann in 24th place. The pro from Bora – hansgrohe is also in this position in the overall classification. Georg Zimmermann, who came second on the mountain of the second category and collected three points, also knew how to please and could keep an eye on the mountain jersey. The two points to the leader could certainly be made up, but the driver from Intermarché-Circus-Wanty would have to break away from the peloton again with a group.
11:58
Already two tasks
Already on the first day of this Tour of France, the field of riders, which was once 176 pedalers, was reduced. Movistar’s Enric Mas was unable to complete the first stage due to a fracture in his left shoulder blade. Richard Carapaz, who was involved in the same fall, still struggled to finish a quarter of an hour behind, but will not compete today due to a broken left kneecap. With that, we lose two athletes who at least had what it takes to make the top 10.
11:48
More jerseys and ratings
One of the tour favorites is already in wait. Tadej Pogačar impressively demonstrated his fitness. The scaphoid fracture in his left wrist doesn’t seem to be an issue anymore, the Slovenian is in good shape and took third place yesterday and, still only 24, the white jersey of the best young driver. As the current best climber, Neilson Powless is spot on. Jumbo-Visma, the team of defending champion Jonas Vingegaard is ahead in the team classification.
11:38
Yates show
At the end of the opening stage on Saturday, the Yates twins set the tone. UAE Team Emirates’ Adam ended up leading by four seconds, followed by Team Jayco Alula’s brother Simon. These two are dressed accordingly in color today. Adam in Maillot Jaune. Simon wears his green jersey on his behalf. The Yates brothers made good money with the great family day yesterday, because the red start number of the most combative driver is also stuck to Adam’s back.
11:28
daily task
This second stage is comparable to yesterday’s task. The ride leads over hilly terrain, but it is quite flat until the first intermediate rating. Only after the intermediate sprint after a good 40 kilometers does the route become profiled and in the further course there are five more mountain classifications. The last is one of the second category. At this point – 16.5 kilometers from the finish – the first bonus ranking of this tour awaits, with eight, five and two seconds time bonuses for the top three.
11:18
bon jour!
Welcome to the Tour de France! On the second leg of the Grande Boucle we continue to move through the Spanish Basque Country. It is 208.9 kilometers from Vitoria-Gasteiz to San Sebastián – or in French: Saint-Sébastien.