Chris Froome finishes stage two of Tour de France despite injuries, Ineos Grenadiers riders lose more time
Tao Geoghegan Hart lost a big chunk of time for the second day running
Chris Froome finished stage two of the 2021 Tour de France, surviving the day's parcours and intensity despite spending several hours in hospital the night before.
The Israel Start-Up Nation rider suffered injuries to his left side and chest after falling in the second big crash of stage one.
Fortunately the four-time winner of the race did not break or fracture any bones, saying before the start of stage two that his aim was to survive the ensuing days and hope that he recovers before the end of the first week.
The 183km second stage in Brittany didn't witness any crashes and all 180 riders who took to the startline finished, with Mathieu van der Poel of Alpecin-Fenix leading the way to also inherit the yellow jersey.
Another rider battered and bruised by Saturday's drama was Marc Hirschi, and the Swiss was also able to complete the day's racing, despite the UAE Team Emirates man sounding a note of worry before the stage began.
The final 20kms of the day was all-action, with mixed fortunes for riders who hope to do well in the general classification.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) moves into third and now has a one-second advantage to Primoż Roglič (Jumbo-Visma), but the biggest shake-up happened with Ineos Grenadiers.
Overnight, Geraint Thomas held an eight-second lead to his team-mate Richard Carapaz, but Thomas finished the stage 23 seconds adrift of race winner Van der Poel and 15 seconds back from Carapaz.
It means that Carapaz is 31 seconds behind Van der Poel and 18 shy of Pogačar, but he has a 10 second lead over Thomas who is 28 seconds in deficit to the defending champion.
The British team entered the race with four potential winners, but Richie Porte and Tao Geoghegan Hart both lost time on stage one.
24 hours later and the duo once again shipped time, Porte now 3-08 from Van der Poel and Geoghegan Hart an insurmountable 9-31 in arrears.
Finishing with the same time as Thomas was Vincenzo Nibali of Trek-Segafredo who is also 41 seconds back from yellow.
Movistar's Miguel Ángel López, meanwhile, is 2-22 behind the leader of the general classification.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
A freelance sports journalist and podcaster, you'll mostly find Chris's byline attached to news scoops, profile interviews and feature writing across a variety of different publications. He has been writing regularly for Cycling Weekly since 2013.
Previously a ski, hiking and cycling guide in a number of places, but mostly in the Canadian Rockies and Spanish Pyrenees, he almost certainly holds the record for the most number of interviews conducted from snowy mountains.
He lives in Valencia, Spain.
-
Most road cyclists still aren't riding tubeless - are latex or TPU tubes a better alternative?
Although common for gravel and mountain bikes, tubeless has still not fully taken off for road cycling; we examine why
By Paul Norman Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers’ 500th victory was claimed by a woman; why do they still not have a team?
The British squad is one of the richest in cycling - but Ineos still won’t stump up for a women’s team
By Adam Becket Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel not intimidated by Tadej Pogačar’s form ahead of Milan-San Remo clash
Dutchman starts his 2024 road season at Italian Monument on Saturday
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I pulled it off and turned everything around' - Brandon McNulty on the ride that changed him
US star grabbed his first ever Grand Tour win at last year’s Giro d’Italia
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Matteo Jorgenson, Visma-Lease a Bike’s new star, continues to impress at Paris-Nice
The American could step into the leaders yellow jersey on Tuesday evening after stage three’s team time trial in Auxerre
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers delighted with Egan Bernal’s late cameo on stage one of Paris-Nice
Colombian snapped up key bonus seconds in the general classification battle on run in to Les Mureaux
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'He’s making history': Paris-Nice reacts to Strade Bianche masterclass from Tadej Pogačar
'He can still surprise us all the time’ João Almeida on Pogačar's performance in Tuscany
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'You have to be open to everything' - Primož Roglič ahead of his Bora-Hansgrohe debut at Paris-Nice
Roglič up against Remco Evenepoel for the first time in 2024 as he gets set for a return to the Tour de France
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert impress in Portugal ahead of bigger tests
Evenepoel starts season in fine form ahead of Tour de France debut this summer
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tao Geoghegan Hart ready for ‘unknown’ as he begins new ‘adventure’ at Lidl-Trek
British rider set to make racing comeback at Volta ao Algarve on Wednesday, nine months after serious crash
By Tom Thewlis Published