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Tour de France Femmes Stage 2 preview
Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 2 of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes!
Today's stage once again starts in Clermont-Ferrand, the city on central France which has played a prominent role in both the men's and women's Tours de France in 2023, before the riders head south into hilly terrain and finish in Mauriac.
Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) has just been announced on stage in Clermont-Ferrand to a huge reception. Today could be a big day for GC action and we may see her back at her aggressive best.
Very important day for warming up, with the racing starting straight out of neutral as the road begins to rise. The first 30km are all uphill on an uncategorised climb before they get into the final 120km of racing which contains six categorised climbs along the way and promises a difficult day in the saddle.
🇫🇷 #TDFF2023Gettin' ready. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/X9ej8Fzu7sJuly 24, 2023
Yesterday's stage saw yet another SD Worx masterclass with Lotte Kopecky attacking away on the final climb and soloing to victory 41 seconds ahead of teammate, Lorena Wiebes, who won the sprint behind.
Kopekcy took the first yellow jersey, but can she hold onto it across today's tough parcours?
All smiles for German national champion, Liane Lippert (Movistar), on a stage that should suit her very well.
Canyon SRAM are next on the stage in their alternate orange and pink kits with Kasia Niewiadoma in the polka-dot jersey despite not leading the classification, as Kopecky is, of course, in the yellow jersey.
We're around 15 minutes away from the neutralised roll out of Clermont-Ferrand before the flag drops at 13:25 CEST.
Here come SD Worx to the stage, led by Kopecky in the maillot jaune. She's got yellow bar tape, but no full yellow bike. Vollering should be their aim for the day if Kopecky gets dropped somewhere along the route, but the Belgian champion should be able to hold onto her yellow jersey with a huge 53 second advantage over the GC favourites.
Unfortunately Lara Vieceli (Israel-Premier Tech Roland) won't take the start of the second stage due to stomach issues.
Unfortunately Lara Vieceli is unable to make the start of stage 2due to a stomach issue. Speedy recovery, Lara!—#TDFF2023July 24, 2023
Stage 2 of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes is underway. We'll again have a neutral rollout before the racing proper gets underway at kilometre 0.
Early mechanical issue for Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset (Coop-Hitec Products), but she's back in the bunch now.
Kopecky in yellow, great to see.
Things are calm for now in the neutral zone, but the action should kick off as soon as Marion Rousse waves the flag.
🚗 Live from the director's car!🚗 En direct de la voiture de direction de course !#TDFF2023 #WatchTheFemmes @GoZwift pic.twitter.com/IynQbGvksvJuly 24, 2023
Reports of a small crash in the neutralised zone.
Lippert went down but is back on her bike.
💥@LianeLippert crashed during the neutralized start, but she's back on the bike💥@LianeLippert a chuté lors du départ fictif, mais elle est de retour sur le vélo.#TDFF2023 #WatchTheFemmes @GoZwift pic.twitter.com/LrRnHnxzP1July 24, 2023
151.7KM TO GO
Flag dropped and racing is fully underway! Attacks are starting already.
Riders are beginning to struggle as soon as the road begins to go uphill. Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka (Canyon SRAM) was the first rider to attack.
Splits in the peloton as they tackle this uncategorised section of climbing.
Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) is in a large group of 40 riders dropped from the peloton.
140KM TO GO
Gap to the group containing Vos and Christine Majerus (SD Worx) is now at 20 seconds.
Attack by Georgia Williams (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) and Hannah Ludwig (Uno-X) off the front of the peloton. Their gap is growing to now 25 seconds.
Early look at the peloton in the sunshine on stage 2.
Counter attack from Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck).
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx) is in a group of 38 riders joining back onto the peloton. Kastelijn is still 45 seconds behind the duo in front, while the peloton is 1:00 back.
Vos is back in the peloton as well.
One of yesterday's breakaway hopefuls, Amandine Fouquenet (Arkéa-Samsic), has unfortunately abandoned the race.
130KM TO GO
Kastelijn back in the bunch after not being able to bridge to our two leaders, Williams and Ludwig.
Here's the duo up the road, Williams and Ludwig, their gap is around 1:00.
April Tacey (Lifeplus Wahoo) had a mechanical issue, but is back in the bunch now. She was also active in yesterday's stage, but couldn't make a breakaway stick.
120KM TO GO
1:35 advantage now for the two leaders. We're approaching the end of this uncategorised section of climbing before a series of categorised uphill tests start.
TODAY'S TOUR DE FRANCE FEMMES MENU
Here's what's in store for the remaining 115km of racing:
109km to go: Climb - Côte du Mont-Dore 1.3km at 6.6%)
100km to go: Climb - Côte de la Stèle (1.8km at 5.1%)
47km to go: Climb - Côte des Plaines (4.5km at 5.5%)
43km to go: Climb - Côte des Boissières (1.2km at 7.2%)
39km to go: Intermediate sprint - Mauriac
26km to go: Bonus sprint - Drugeac
23km to go: Climb - Côte de Merlhac (1.9km at 5.5%)
1.4km to go: Climb - Côte de Trébiac (3.4km at 5.8%)
Finish - Mauriac
Vittoria Guazzini (FDJ-SUEZ) dropped from the bunch early for the second day running. She should be best suited to the time trial on the final stage.
110KM TO GO
The riders are onto the first categorised climb of the day, the Côte du Mont-Dore.
Gap to the leading duo is down to just a minute now.
The peloton reduced the gap to just 40 seconds over that first climb.
Bunch is stretched out as we close in on the foot of the Côte de la Stèle.
Williams was first over the QOM point ahead of Ludwig.
105KM TO GO
Things have calmed down slightly in the peloton and the leaders' advantage has gone back out to 45 seconds.
100KM TO GO
Williams took the QOM points again ahead of Ludwig. That puts her virtually in the lead ahead of Kopecky, but sadly for her there are four more categorised climbs left in the stage and they may be much harder to acquire.
The weather has been all over the place today, sunshine at the start, into the great clouds over the first climb and now it's raining. We're also onto a long undulating descent section, so hopefully everyone stays safe.
Williams' and Ludwig's advantage is posted at 1:37 now on this descending section.
⛰️ Côte de la Stèle (Cat. 4) ⛰️1️⃣ 🇳🇿@GeoWilliams3, 2 pts2️⃣ 🇩🇪Hannah Ludwig, 1 pt⚪️🔴 Georgia Williams (@EF_TIBCO_SVB) a pris 4 points aujourd'hui, elle prend provisoirement la tête du classement. ⚪️🔴#TDFF2023 #WatchTheFemmes pic.twitter.com/GvgWXbAGpgJuly 24, 2023
80KM TO GO
DSM-Firmenich, Fenix-Deceuninck and Lidl-Trek are currently leading the peloton downhill.
Another look at the day's strong breakaway duo.
The riders have now passed the halfway point of the stage. Once we hit the foot of the next climb, the action should completely kick off.
70KM TO GO
Williams and Ludwig are now going through Bort-les-Orgues with the peloton 1:12 behind.
SD Worx are typically absent from the front of the peloton, despite having the race leader's yellow jersey, They'll only rear their head in the wind when required.
Minor crash at the back of the peloton for Arianna Fidanza (Ceratizit WNT) who appeared to get stuck behind Wilma Olausson (Uno-X).
It's been a drama-free day in yellow so far for Kopecky, but will she be able to hang on once the action kicks off on the climbs that are littered throughout the final 50km?
60KM TO GO
Celia Le Mouel (St Michel-Mavic-Auber93) has changed bike behind the peloton.
Gap to the duo in front is under the 30-second mark.
Handshake from our two breakaway companions, Williams and Ludwig, who are just about to be reabsorbed into the peloton. Chapeau to them.
Crash at the back of the peloton on damp roads for Alison Jackson (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB), Špela Kern (Cofidis) and Dilyxine Miermont (St Michel-Mavic-Auber93).
The bunch ahead is absolutely flying as they are doing full lead outs to make it onto the base of the next climb in good position.
FDJ-SUEZ and Lidl-Trek are leading the charge for now.
50KM TO GO
The next climb is the hardest of the day, a category 2 test up the Côte des Plaines (4.6km at 5.5%).
Attacks are starting at the foot of this climb, Skalniak-Sójka and Evita Muzic (FDJ-SUEZ) have nipped off the front. The Polish rider was one of the first riders to attack today.
Jackson went down hard in the crash, but has given a thumbs up and a smile to the camera typical to her character. She'll just try to roll home behind the peloton and hope to recover now, probably with a dance.
Anouska Koster (Uno-X) is very active at the front of the peloton alongside Julie De Wilde (Fenix-Deceuninck).
Lots of riders are already beginning to struggle at the back of the peloton as the pace heightens.
Williams has dropped out the back after her efforts in the breakaway.
Julie Van de Velde (Fenix-Deceuninck) had attacked off the front of the peloton. Grimace on her face and pulling out a decent gap for now.
Big crash on the side of the road with Van Vleuten, Lippert and Longo Borghini all involved. Nightmare. No one looks badly hurt, but the bunch will be moving away.
Lippert and the whole Movistar contingent are back to the World Champion to help her try and get back to the front. Cavalli had ignited the action in the peloton.
Wiebes and Majerus dropped already with 500m left on this climb.
46KM TO GO
Van Vleuten is back in the peloton all good and is starting to move back up the bunch to get in correct position, panic over for the defending champion.
Van de Velde takes the maximum five QOM points over the top of the Côte des Plaines.
Kastelijn has taken over the duties on the front with Koster and Soraya Paladin (Canyon SRAM) in her wheel. Clara Koppenburg (Cofidis) is struggling off the back of the peloton and battling the headwind.
Romy Kasper (AG Insurance-Soudal-QuickStep) has attacked the peloton to try and bridge to the leading trio.
The peloton has been in and out of the trees all day throughout the racing on stage 2.
Kopecky has suddenly appeared in second wheel behind Cavalli. She looks to be on duty to protect Vollering and Reusser. Moolman, Lippert and Van Vleuten are close behind in the group.
Kastelijn re-attacks moments before the trio was about to be caught by the peloton. She'll be going after the QOM points atop the Côte des Boissières.
Amber Kraak (Jumbo-Visma) has a dig over the top of the climb, closely followed by Boilard and Bredewold.
40KM TO GO
Kastelijn is about to be joined at the front of the peloton by Koster and Van Agt. Gap for now is 20 seconds.
The trio in front swept up the maximum prizes at the intermediate sprint point, with Kopecky kicking off the front of the peloton to clean up the remaining points in fourth.
Dreadful timing for Veronica Ewers (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) to have a mechanical. She's at the back of the peloton, but may have to wait a long time for the team car to reach her. Shame for the American, who has been in great form this season.
We're getting a glimpse of the finish line now, so those who will be fighting for victory will want to see which side of the road will be better come the end of the stage.
Ewers finally gets a new bike, hopefully she can get back into the peloton. She'd originally swapped with a teammate.
35KM TO GO
The Dutch trio at the head of the race now has a 42 second advantage over the peloton. It's very chatty in the peloton for now as they approach the final phase of racing, which should give Ewers a solid chance of returning.
Van de Velde and Kastelijn are now the top two in the QOM classification both on five points. Williams is in third on four points with Kopecky and Niewiadoma both on three.
Ewers is back in the bunch with help from Hammes. Good job from the American team not to panic, allowing their GC prospect the best chance of fighting for victories and the overall.
30KM TO GO
The break now has 1:00 which will make them confident, but there is a bonus climb approaching which could cause the pace to heat up in the bunch behind.
Take a look at the crowd in Mauriac getting a first look at the riders over the finish line.
🏁First time on the finishing line for the trio upfront! 🏁Premier passage sur la ligne d'arrivée pour le trio de tête ! #TDFF2023 #WatchTheFemmes @Gozwift pic.twitter.com/oiyJVIW33EJuly 24, 2023
Van Agt and Kouster seems to have a small chat and then the former attacked the trio. Perhaps they aren't all happy with the sharing of the word in this front group. Kastelijn shuts it down just before the bonus sprint which was taken by Koster with Van Agt in second and Kastelijn in third.
This doesn't mean much for the overall however as Van Agt started the day 6:08 on Kopecky and the other two were 2:10 behind the leader.
25KM TO GO
Next up is the Côte de Merlhac (1.9km at 5.5%).
Attack by Juliette Labous (DSM-Firmenich) from the peloton. She lost time behind and is trying to make that up now. Alarm bells begin to ring behind.
Reusser is straight into work at the front to pull back the French climber. Small gaps forming behind which Vollering is forced to close on her own to reach Reusser and Kopecky.
Muzic tries a move closely followed by Patiño and then Reusser again. Lots of action kicking off, but the gradient is quite hard enough yet for anything to stick.
The gap to the leading trio has halved to 30 seconds after those few accelerations. The climbing doesn't let up once they reach the crest either, before they hit a descent and close in on the final climb and finish in Mauriac.
Kastelijn takes two more points over the QOM point up the Côte de Merlhac. She now leads that classification on seven points ahead of her teammate, Van de Velde.
21KM TO GO
Quinty Ton (Liv Racing-TeqFind) attacks out of the peloton.
Kastelijn has been active throughout the second stage and should have the reward of wearing the QOM polka-dot jersey on at least stage 3.
Attacks are starting to come out of the peloton from and Ton has been reeled in. Grace Brown (FDJ-SUEZ) was the first to go and now its Skalniak-Sójka trying to get away for the third time today.
There's a big bunch behind with many potential options for the win, but they will want to catch this breakaway trio sooner rather than later. Their gap is stable at 50 seconds.
The weather has closed in during this run in. Grim conditions out in front on wet and windy roads.
15KM TO GO
Cavalli sitting off the back of the peloton with her hand up.
Here's our Dutch breakaway trio of Van Agt, Koster and Kastelijn, can they make it all the way?
The time gap is still stuck at around 50 seconds, but that could melt away on the final climb.
10KM TO GO
Gap down to 47 seconds and Koster is sat at the back of the group. Kastelijn goes straight on at a roundabout, but avoids disaster and manages to get away with it. She's chasing back onto her two breakaway companions now.
Crash in the peloton just before the roundabout where Kastelijn went straight on. It's Lauretta Hanson (Lidl-Trek) who slid out, but she's given the doctor a thumbs up and is back on her way on a new bike.
Confalonieri has also been down in these treacherous conditions. Kastelijn has lost contact with Koster and Van Agt and is trying to get back on.
Lidl-Trek are pushing it on the front alongside Movistar with the gap to the leaders coming down to just 30 seconds now.
Van Agt has crashed on the descent and looks in serious difficulty over a roadside barrier. These speeds with these conditions are an incredibly dangerous combination.
5KM TO GO
Medical team is now with Van Agt, who had got away from Koster, but crashed into a barrier ahead of her. Updates will follow from Jumbo-Visma and hopefully it isn't too serious for the Dutchwoman.
Niewiadoma kicks out of the peloton and launches towards Kastelijn and Koster at the head of the race.
Moolman is right with her alongside Lippert and Longo Borghini closing in. Vollering is forced to chase on her own, as is Van Vleuten.
Great move from Canyon SRAM, forcing the GC favourites to react. Kastelijn has hung on for now.
4KM TO GO
Kopecky isn't currently with this leading group, but is pacing to try and get back in. Niewiadoma is pressing on in this group that now contains most of the GC favourites.
These climbers and punchy riders will have to attack if they want to stop Kopecky from winning a second stage.
As I typed that, Niewiadoma attacked again, but Kopecky had got back in and marked her straight away. Who's going to take it up?
Mavi Garcia (Liv Racing-TeqFind) and Claire Steels (Israel-Premier Tech Roland) aren't in the front group and are chasing back on behind.
Labous attacks again, showing that clearly yesterday was an anomaly. Reusser is straight into her wheel with Niewiadoma just behind.
2KM TO GO
We're all back together with 1.2km remaining on this final climb. Kerbaol attacks in the white jersey, but yet again Reusser is just chugging away on this climb and ensuring no move can stick.
Surely Kopecky will be the favourite in a sprint between this group, but how much has all this climbing sapped her legs? A late attack could still work.
Reusser attacks on the left hand side! They won't want to let her go. Longo Borghini is attentive and tracks her with Niewiadoma.
1KM TO GO
Niewiadoma attacks again, she's not stopped on this final climb. The Polish rider just cannot get separation.
Vollering is now leading Kopecky into this finish.
Narrow roads cause the bunch to line out with Vollering doing the leadout. Small splits are forming with Lippert and Persico close behind the yellow jersey.
Lippert goes early, but here comes Kopecky!
STAGE FINISH
Liane Lippert (Movistar) wins stage 2 of the Tour de France Femmes!
The German champion held off Kopecky's charge and takes her first World Tour win since The Cadel Evans Great Ocean road race in 2020. What a sprint!
Kasia Niewiadoma was the most attacking rider on the final climb, but was unable to get a gap, here's what she had to say after another strong performance:
"It definitely was hectic towards the finale because the first part of the race was very slow. I feel like everyone was afraid of what was coming."
"In the final, I tried to take my chance, I feel like the climb wasn't steep enough. It was more of a power climb so it was really hard to make a bigger gap, but we wan't to try."
"Of course I tried my best, but over this gradient of climb, its really hard to maintain the gap because riders like Kopecky, Marlen and Demi, they're really powerful so you can see they catch me without even getting out of the saddle."
"Unfortunately I had a good position before the roundabout, but girls came around me and definitely I'm missing a sprinter fighting mode to push everyone with my elbows so I got stuck and then I had to close the gap because Marlen opened the gap on purpose, so you know. Racing."
Here's what Liane Lippert had to say after winning her first Tour de France stage on an incredibly tough day of racing:
"I think it will still take a little bit to realise it, but I'm really happy. Actually I crashed two times, in the neutral then on the climb. It was a bit stressful, but the team did so well, everybody was a big part of this."
"We came back after the crash and stayed calm and I always race well in the rain so I was happy when it started."
"No, I didn't think I was going to win. I just focused on Lotte the whole final and I stayed calm. My qualities are more on the uphill, longer, harder sprints, but I didn't believe it even when I crossed the line. I thought, maybe there's a breakaway gone or something. I still need some time to realise."
"I've been waiting so long for a win and to win at the Tour de France, I couldn't wish for more."
Kopecky has stated here that a rear-wheel puncture impacted her final sprint, but she still held onto the yellow jersey.
🥈 place for @LotteKopecky in @LeTourFemmes. “Unfortunately I had a flat tire so I couldn’t sprint fully. It would have been nice to win in the yellow jersey but after all this was a good day for our team.”#wesparksuccess #TDFF2023 pic.twitter.com/Ni4oci6wYUJuly 24, 2023
A delighted Van Vleuten spoke on Lippert's win after a great day for Movistar and she also denounced any notion that she fully crashed:
"No I would not say 'come down', but I had to unclip and someone crashed in front of me, it was not a crash."
"Super good [day for the team], I think it was also her [Lippert's] biggest win so far. She won the Cadel Great Ocean race, but I think it is a breakthrough win for her. Now maybe she will believe more in herself and also the kind of finishes she can do like this and also after a hard race."
"So yeah I knew she was super strong and sometimes you need to wait for the moment and when you start winning, I think she will not stop. This is for sure good for the confidence."
Van Vleuten finished safely in the group in ninth.
Here's the full results from stage 2 courtesy of FirstCycling.
There was unfortunately another DNF in today's stage after Van Agt crashed hard into this barrier on the final descent. Thankfully, Jumbo-Visma have tweeted that she is "conscious and was brought to the hospital, where she will undergo further examinations." Hopefully she can recover quickly.
A very strong performance by the Fenix-Deceuninck team sees Kastelijn go into the polka-dot jersey after she originally missed the break, but went later into the day's racing after Van de Velde had attacked, to take the overall lead of the classification ahead of her teammate.
Polka dot jersey for @Yarakastelijn after a very strong stage from the whole team 🤩🔴⚪#TDFF #TDFF23 #FenixElegant #WatchTheFemmes pic.twitter.com/5EwCOjFZEwJuly 24, 2023
Tomorrow's stage should be a day for the sprinters, but of course, we said that on stage 1 so who can be certain. The parcours does have five categorised climbs on it, but none are too difficult for the likes of Wiebes and Vos, so this should end in our first big bunch finish in Montignac-Lascaux after 147.2km of racing starting in Collonges-la-Rouge.
Make sure you read Daniel Ostanek's race report from stage 2 which summarises all of the day's action and it's implications for the race, alongside a gallery from the second stage.
Tour de France Femmes: Liane Lippert wins hilly stage 2 ahead of Lotte Kopecky
That wraps things up for Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 2 of the Tour de France Femmes 2023. Liane Lippert was victorious ahead of yellow jersey wearer, Lotte Kopecky and Silvia Persico, which moved the German into second overall behind Kopecky who still leads by 49 seconds.
Check back tomorrow for live coverage of the third stage, but in the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for the news and great content being produced by our team at the race in France.
