Tour de France 2023: Lafay wins with late attack, Yates still leader

foto: Cor VosA group of 24 riders reach the summit of the Jaizkibel together before Victor Lafay strikes in the last kilometre. He holds off the chasers, while Wout van Aert sprints to second place and Tadej Pogacar comes home in third. Adam Yates keeps the yellow jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2nd stage 2023 Tour de France

1. Victor Lafay (fra)
2. Wout van Aert (bel) s.t.
3. Tadej Pogacar (slo) s.t.
4. Tom Pidcock (gbr) s.t.
5. Pello Bilbao (spa) s.t.
6. Mattias Skjelmose (den) s.t.
7. Michael Woods (can) s.t.
8. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
9. Dylan Teuns (bel) s.t.
10. Jai Hindley (aus) s.t.

28. Ben O’Connor (aus) + 0.58
65. Daniel Felipe Martínez (col) + 7.00
76. Alexey Lutsenko (kaz) + 8.12
131. Rigoberto Urán (col) + 14.10

GC after stage 2
1. Adam Yates (gbr)
2. Tadej Pogacar (slo) + 0.06
3. Simon Yates (gbr) s.t.
4. Victor Lafay (fra) + 0.12
5. Wout van Aert (bel) + 0.16
6. Jonas Vingegaard (den) + 0.17
7. Michael Woods (can) + 0.22
8. Mattias Skjelmose (den) s.t.
9. Jai Hindley (aus) s.t.
10. Mikel Landa (spa) s.t.

Race report
Edvald Boasson Hagen and Neilson Powless initiate the breakaway after some 10 kilometres. Rémi Cavagna bridges across and the three put 5 minutes into the peloton.

Powless cements his KOM lead on the Col d’Udana, Côte d’Aztiria and Côte d’Alkiza, while Cavagna loses contact on the latter climb.

Powless drops Boasson Hagen in the Gurutze climb before the peloton starts closing in on the Jaizkibel. The American is reeled in with 2.7 kilometres left to climb. Tadej Pogacar gains a time bonus of 8 seconds at the top, Jonas Vingegaard takes 4, Simon Yates 2.

Pogacar pushes on with Vingegaard in his wheel. But the Dane prefers to wait for his team mates – such as Wout van Aert – to return. Then it is Pello Bilbao who counter-attacks on descent. Jumbo-Visma brings him back inside the last 7 kilometres.

Van Aert neutralises attacks by Skjelmose and Pidcock in the last 3 kilometres before Lafay goes under the flamme rouge. He opens a gap and holds off the chasers. He wins the race 15 metres ahead of Van Aert and Pogacar.

Adam Yates stays in yellow, while Pogacar swaps places with Simon Yates.

Another interesting read: route 2nd stage 2023 Tour de France.