The Tour’s second stage finished on the flat roads of Bologna, but the place to be to experience the full spectacle of the Tour was on the steep, two-kilometer climb to San Luca, which the riders tackled twice, first 31 kilometers from the finish, and then again with 13 k to go until the finish.
The San Luca climb has to be one of the best places on earth to watch a bike race. I’ve been there before, for two Giro stages and for the finish of the Giro dell’Emilia, but I’ve never before seen this many people, or this level of excitement, on San Luca. In addition to the road to the top, there’s a covered walkway, which is the world’s longest portico, and provides excellent race-viewing positions under its arches. I chose a spot halfway up the climb, where the road passes under the portico.
The breakaway riders were still together on their first pass up San Luca.
A few minutes later, Visma led the peloton up the climb.
Pogacar and Evenepoel were just behind the Visma train.
Romain Bardet enjoying (?) his day in the yellow jersey:
Matej Mohoric:
European champion Christophe LaPorte:
Mathieu Van Der Poel and Silvan Dillier:
The second time up the climb, Kevin Vauquelin had left his breakaway companions behind and was on his solo ride to the stage victory.
It was full polka dots for Jonas Abrahamsen.
This time up, it was Adam Yates leading the favorites’ group, or as we call them in Italy, i big.
Vingegaard and Pogacar:
Roglic and Bardet:
Rui Costa:
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