Except for three modest climbs in the first half of the route the course is as flat as can possibly be. But then an enormous bridge looms in the last 25 kilometres. The Storebælsbroen is 18 kilometres long and crosses a strait. Which means the road not only rises – although at shallow gradients -, it’s also extremely exposed.
Remember the 2nd stage of the 2015 Tour de France. That race finished at the artificial island of Neeltje Jans in the Netherlands, located halfway a storm surge barrier. After a sunny start the finale was played out with tormenting winds tearing the peloton to pieces. André Greipel sprinted to victory in the first echelon, which only consisted of 24 men.
When it’s a calm day in Denmark a bunch sprint is next to certain. By winning four stages, Mark Cavendish wrote a fairytale in last year’s Tour de France. After years beset by injury, illness, and mental health struggles, the ManX Express matched Eddy Merckx’ record with 34 stage wins and is now the most successful sprinter in the history of La Grande Boucle.
Favourites 2nd stage 2022 Tour de France
*** Caleb Ewan, Fabio Jakobsen, Wout van Aert
** Mads Pedersen, Jasper Philipsen, Dylan Groenewegen
* Alexander Kristoff, Alberto Dainese, Bryan Coquard
Another interesting read: route 2nd stage 2022 Tour de France.
Tour de France 2022 stage 2: routes & profiles
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Tour de France 2024 Route stage 1: Florence - Rimini
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 2: Cesenatico - Bologna
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 3: Piacenza - Turin
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 5: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne - Saint-Vulbas
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 7: Nuits-Saint-Georges - Gevrey-Chambertin
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 8: Semur-en-Auxois - Colombey-les-Deux-Églises
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 9: Troyes - Troyes
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 11: Evaux-les-Bains - Le Lioran
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 12: Aurillac - Villeneuve-sur-Lot
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 14: Pau - Pla d'Adet
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 15: Loudenvielle - Plateau de Beille
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 16: Gruissan - Nîmes
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 17: Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux - Superdévoluy
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 18: Gap - Barcelonnette
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 19: Embrun - Isola 2000
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 20: Nice - Col de la Couillole
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 21: Monaco - Nice
Giro 2024: The Route
Giro 2024 Route stage 1: Turin - Turin
Giro 2024 Route stage 2: San Fransesco al Campo - Oropa
Giro 2024 Route stage 3: Novara - Fossano
Giro 2024 Route stage 4: Acqui Terme - Andora
Giro 2024 Route stage 5: Genoa - Lucca
Giro 2024 Route stage 6: Viareggio - Rapolano Terme
Giro 2024 Route stage 7: Foligno - Perugia
Giro 2024 Route stage 8: Spoleto - Prati di Tivo
Giro 2024 Route stage 9: Naples - Naples
Cycling Calendar 2024