Stage 2 of the 2018 Tour de France takes the peloton completely inland, away from the ocean breezes that pushed on the riders yesterday.
Although the Tour regularly visits the Vendée province, stage 2 features the prefecture La Roche-sur-Yon on the map of the race for the first time since 1934 when it was the starting town of the first ever time trial in the history of the race.
The course passes through Les Herbiers, the home of the famous Chrono des Nations time trial that brings down the curtain at the end of the European cycling season. It’s suitable for another breakaway from far out and another bunch sprint. After a first stint of the yellow jersey, Fernando Gaviria is likely hungry for more, but he’ll have all of the other sprinters teams keeping him in check all day.
Ron is the chief cook and bottlewasher at Bike World News, doing everything from website design to bike reviews.
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