The Tour de France heads to the roads around Barcelona on Sunday, with Stage 2 starting in Tarragona and finishing in Barcelona after 168.5 kilometres. Featuring four classified climbs and three laps of a demanding finishing circuit, this is the first real opportunity for the general classification contenders to go head-to-head.
Stage 1 Review
Team Visma–Lease a Bike made the perfect start to the Tour, winning the opening team time trial ahead of Ineos Grenadiers by eight seconds, with UAE Team Emirates XRG another four seconds adrift in third.
My selection, Lidl-Trek at 11.00, gave us a good run for our money before eventually finishing fourth.
The revised team time trial format, where only the first rider’s time counted, certainly added an interesting tactical element. It was also great to see the likes of Jonas Vingegaard, Filippo Ganna, Tadej Pogačar, and Remco Evenepoel charging up the final climb.
Vingegaard will wear the yellow jersey into Stage 2.
Classification Update
Vingegaard leads the general classification by eight seconds from Ganna, with Pogačar 12 seconds off the lead.
The Green Jersey and King of the Mountains competitions also begin in earnest on Stage 2, with plenty of points available over the day’s four classified climbs.
Outright Betting Update
There has been a slight shift in the yellow jersey market following the opening stage.
- Tadej Pogačar has eased from 1.22 to 1.29.
- Jonas Vingegaard remains solid at 4.00.
- Paul Seixas is 15.00.
- The remainder of the contenders can be backed at 23.00 and bigger.
In the secondary classifications:
- Jasper Philipsen remains the 5/4 favourite for the Green Jersey.
- Tadej Pogačar heads the King of the Mountains market at 15/10.
Stage 2 Profile
The opening 85 kilometres are relatively straightforward before the riders reach the intermediate sprint.
From there, the race becomes considerably tougher with the Category 2 Coll de Begues, a climb of 6.1 kilometres at 6.5%, before an undulating run into Barcelona.
The finale consists of three laps of a finishing circuit, each including the Côte du Château de Montjuïc, a punchy climb of 1.6 kilometres at 9.3%. Those repeated ascents should gradually wear down the peloton before the finish outside the Olympic Stadium.
What to Expect
This is one of the more intriguing stages of the opening week.
The early question is whether a breakaway is allowed to establish itself quickly or whether several teams contest the move before the first major climb.
While I do expect a break to eventually form, I think this is ultimately a general classification stage rather than one for the escapees.
Once the race reaches the finishing circuit, I expect UAE Team Emirates XRG to take control of the peloton and set a hard tempo. The repeated climbs are ideally suited to an attack from Pogačar, who has multiple ways to win this stage.
He could attack solo on the final ascent, or he may be joined by one or two of the other elite climbers before contesting victory from a very small group. Equally, if his rivals are able to stay with him over the final climb, he still possesses the finishing speed to win from a small bunch.
Stage 2 Betting
Stage Winner Odds – click here to bet
- Tadej Pogačar – 1.73
- Mathieu van der Poel – 5.50
- Mathias Vacek – 17.00
- Remco Evenepoel – 17.00
- Isaac del Toro – 19.00
- 23.00 and bigger the remainder.
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Verdict
Pogačar is a worthy favourite at 1.73, and this stage looks tailor-made for his explosive climbing ability.
The repeated ascents of Montjuïc should allow UAE Team Emirates XRG to put the race under pressure before their leader launches an attack. Even if he doesn’t ride clear, he has more than enough speed to win from a reduced group sprint.
I’ll be taking advantage of the World Sports Betting Money Back Special on this one. Details are underneath the banner further up in the article. The promotion means my stake is refunded in the form of World Coins should Pogačar finish second, which provides a bit of insurance in what should be a fascinating finish.
Suggested Bet: Tadej Pogačar to win Stage 2 at 1.73
Prices were correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
