(POLOGNA) – Kevin Vauquelin secured a second straight French victory with a breakaway win in the mountain stage to Pologna on Sunday in the Tour de France.
Quebecer Hugo Holly got 9H Rank, finishing 1 minute and 36 seconds behind the winner. Runner from Israel – Premier Tech is ranked 61stH Ranked in the general classification. His teammate Guillaume Boivin got 93.H Stage rank.
“I was happy to be part of the breakaway today. It’s a good start and hopefully I can improve throughout the round,” said Holley after crossing the finish line.
It only took two Grande Boucle stages to show that Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard belong in a class of their own.
Pogacar attacked from the chase group until the second climb of San Luca and only Vingegaard could follow him.
The manoeuvre helped Pogacar strip Frenchman Romain Bardet, winner of the first stage, of the leader's yellow jersey.
Photography by Danielle Cole, Associated Press
Tadej Pogacar
Pogacar was crowned winner of the Tour de France in 2020 and 2021, before finishing second behind Vingegaard in the last two Grand Boucle races.
Pogacar is aiming for a rare Giro-Tour de France double, after dominating the Grand Tour in Italy last month. Vingegaard has not competed in a race since his bad fall in April. He broke his collarbone and ribs and suffered a pneumothorax.
At the age of 23, Vauquelin took his first career stage victory in a Grand Tour.
Photography by Thomas Samson, AFP
Kevin Vaukelin
The first four stages of the Tour de France are being held in Italy for the first time.
The 199km route starting in Cesenatico included six categorized climbs, including two ascents to San Luca, before finishing in Bologna city centre.
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