Carlos de Torres|
San Sebastián (EFE).- Lafay was the star in San Sebastián, Pogacar takes positions. The Frenchman Victor Lafay (Cofidis) surprised the favorites with a final blow that allowed him to win the second stage of the Tour de France between Vitoria Gasteiz and San Sebastián, 209 km long, the longest of this edition, in which Britain’s Adam Yates (UAE) maintained the lead and Slovenian Tadej Pogacar placed second overall.
Lafay was the star
Lafay (Lyon, 27 years old) was a masterstroke, by surprise, diverting the focus from the favorites to become the star in San Sebastián, where he raised his arms with a time of 4h.46.39, at an average of 43.7 km /hour, ruining the intentions of Wout Van Aert, condemned to take out his frustration by beating the handlebars of his bike.
The Belgian had to settle for second place, and Tadej Pogacar, who herded 8 seconds at the top of Jaizkibel, got into the sprint to achieve another 4 as third classified. Within the main group the Spaniards Pello Bilabo, fifth, Mikel Landa and Carlos Rodríguez.
Adam Yates retained the yellow jersey that he donned in Bilbao, with 6 seconds ahead of Pogacar, who is already emerging as the real leader of the Tour, and his brother Simon, third. Jonas Vingegaard, sixth, is 11 seconds away from the Slovenian favourite. Landa closes the top 10 at 22 seconds, the same difference as Carlos Rodríguez.
Second stage on Basque soil, another day of celebration in the holy land of cycling. In Vitoria, next to the popular Monte de la Tortilla, popularly named by the people of Gazteita, sensations of all kinds.
Pogacar takes positions
Movistar and EF Education lamenting the loss of their leaders Enric Mas and Richard Carapaz. Two boats without a captain condemned to save the Tour by chasing some stage. Near his buses, Mikel Landa took a mass bath with his countrymen and explained the new cycling philosophy of “landismo”, that is, “a way of dreaming and believing that special things can happen”.
It was the marathon day of the 2023 Tour, the longest with 209 km, far from the kilometers of bygone times, but enough to give emotion on a route of ups and downs between mountains and coast. The breakaway started, in the only flat section, with the American Neilson Powless (EF Education) looking for points in the mountains, the Norwegian Boasson Hagen (TotalEnergies) and the French Rémi Cavagna (Soudal-Quick Step).
Altos de Udana, Aztiria and Cruzze
Powless, who went down in history on the 2020 Tour by being the first Native American to participate in the gala round, managed to lead points in the Udana, Aztiria and Gurutze peaks, but gave up in Jaizkibel, where the battle between the favorites began . The American, at least, made profitable a 176 km breakaway beating by consolidating the polka dot jersey of the mountain.
The appointment marked in red on the stage was at Jaizkibel (2a, 8.1 km to 5.4), an icon of the San Sebastián Clásica. At 19 from the finish line and 2.7 from the top, Powless was over and the UAE took command of the operations to select the group.
Majka set an intimidating pace, Yates in yellow took over, and finally Pogacar and Vingegaard stayed in front to raffle off the 8 bonus seconds that Jaizkibel’s roof had. The Slovenian Pogacar took 8 seconds of prize, faster than the Dane, who settled for 5.
Going down, 25 gathered, and among them Pello Bilbao was activated to throw himself into an open grave. The man from Gernikarra does not want to leave the Basque Country if there is a victory, and he tried. The Biscayan company was impossible. The general’s men wanted the loot from him, and others; like Van Aert and Pidcock, they were crazy to achieve a film triumph in Donosti.
Between glances and markings
Each played their cards. Pidcock attacked with 3km to go, with a response from Dane Skjelmose to close the gap. Pogacar and Vingegaard controlling their respective wheels. Between looks and markings, Victor Lafay was encouraged to take off like a rocket. The Lyon cyclist was a few meters ahead with 800 meters ahead. Nobody came out for him. Perhaps nobody was betting on the Frenchman.
But Lafay, winner of a stage in the 2021 Giro, had plenty of faith. He gritted his teeth, left his life on the bike and reached the finish line to celebrate his first victory in the Tour, the most important of his career, in which he has 4. A blessing for his team, because Cofidis did not win the “Grande Boucle” for 15 years.
This Monday the third stage will be held between Amorebieta and Bayona, 187.4 km long, a day with four minor difficulties: Cota de Trabakua (3rd, 4.2 km to 5.4), Milloi (4th, 2.3 km to 4.5), Alto de Itziar (3rd, 5.1 km to 4.6) and Orioko Benta (3rd, 4.6 km to 6.3). The Tour could live at the first arrival in the sprint. EFE