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Mathieu van der Poel had the best legs on the final climb
Photo: Philippe Lopez / POOL / EPA
Mathieu van der Poel won the second stage of the Tour de France and at the same time took over the yellow jersey of the overall leader from Julien Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step). After 183.5 km between Perros-Guirec and Mûr-de-Bretagne, the 26-year-old Dutchman from Team Alpecin-Fenix sat six seconds ahead of defending champion Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) and last year's runner-up Primož Roglič (both Slovenia / Jumbo -Visma).
Opening winner Alaphilippe finished fifth, losing eight seconds.
Van der Poel made up for the rest of the gap to the French with time bonuses on the final climbs.
With this, the grandson of the French tour legend Raymond Poulidor secured the overall lead on the second stage of his first tour of France.
Poulidor himself had never worn the yellow jersey.
Van der Poel also took the lead in the mountain classification.
On the third stage, the chances are good that van der Poel will be able to defend the Maillot Jaune: on the 182.9 kilometer section from Lorient to Pontivy, only two mountain ratings in the lowest fourth category await the peloton.
So it should be the first stage for the sprinters in the field of this year's tour.
cev / sid
