Van der Poel, victory and leadership in the Tour de France 2025

Classic stage through northern France, with a final part where three short but tough climbs were linked together to select the peloton and allow Mathieu van der Poel to claim a victory that many already attributed to him before the start. A triumph that also brings the prize of the new yellow jersey of the race.

Mathieu van der Poel beats Tadej Pogacar and becomes the new leader of the Tour de France

Two stages, two wins for Alpecin-Deceuninck in the Tour de France 2025. If yesterday the team not only managed to place their entire train in the final breakaway to set up a perfect lead-out for Jasper Philipsen, today it was Mathieu van der Poel's turn in a classic stage between Lauwin-Planque and Boulogne-sur-Mer over 209 kilometers, the longest of this edition.

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A day in which the cyclists would tackle a terrain of constant short climbs through the region of Northern France. However, the attention of the stage would be focused on the last 35 kilometers where three short but steep climbs were linked together, where some action could be expected, even if only to drop the sprinters.

The stage started calmly until the last third of it. After the intermediate sprint, the breakaway was caught and the teams of the general classification favorites began to position themselves for the mentioned ascents. However, despite the attempts of Visma-Lease a Bike to increase the pace and some small splits, they were not decisive either for the general classification or for the outcome of the stage.

The last kilometer was reached with a small and select group led by Mathieu van der Poel, Jonas Vingegaard, and, of course, Tadej Pogacar despite the timid attempts to surprise by riders like Vauquelin or Lipowitz. Without letting anyone take the lead, Van der Poel made a powerful final sprint, launching it at the right moment, and although Tadej Pogacar managed to come out of his slipstream and start the comeback, today's legs of Mathieu van der Poel were unbeatable even for the world number 1. The Dutchman thus achieved a victory that allows him to enjoy the yellow jersey again, even if only for a few days, just like he did in his debut Tour de France in 2021 when he won in a spectacular fashion on the Muro de Bretaña.

Tomorrow, the last stage in the North as part of the three stages that make up La Grand Depart. A new day that seems destined for a mass sprint in Dunkirk, although the wind could once again play a leading role as it did in the first stage.

Stage 2 Classification

1. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 4h45'41''
2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +00''
3. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) +00''
4. Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) +00''
5. Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor) +00''
6. Oscar Onley (Picnic-PostNL) +00''
7. Aurélien Paret-Peintre (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) +00''
8. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) +00''
9. Simone Velasco (XDS-Astana) +00''
10. Jenno Berckmoes) +00''

General Classification

1. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 8h38'42''
2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +04''
3. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) +06''
4. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) +10''
5. Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) +10''
6. Enric Mas (Movistar) +10''
7. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) +31''
8. Joseph Blackmore (Israel-PremierTech) +41''
9. Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) +41''
10. Ben O'Connor (Jayco-AlUla) +41''