{"id":170666,"date":"2025-06-09T16:18:21","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T16:18:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/170666\/"},"modified":"2025-06-09T16:18:21","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T16:18:21","slug":"as-it-happened-criterium-du-dauphine-stage-2-ends-in-bunch-sprint-and-new-race-leader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/170666\/","title":{"rendered":"As it happened: Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9 stage 2 ends in bunch sprint and new race leader"},"content":{"rendered":"

Refresh <\/p>\n

2025-06-09T16:06:30.326Z<\/p>\n

That just about wraps it up for the Cyclingnews live coverage of stage 2. We’ll be back tomorrow with more coverage of stage 3.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T16:02:41.125Z<\/p>\n

And what about Tuesday?<\/p>\n

Stage 3 of the Criterium du Dauphin\u00e9 from Brioude to Charantonnay is the longest of the entire 2025 race, weighing in at 207.2 kilometres and with over 3,000 metres of vertical climbing. Most of that comes in the first half of the stage though, with the toughest ascent of the day the Cat.2 C\u00f4te de la Barbate (Km.18) \u00a0making it likely battle between a strong early breakaway and the bunch sprinters could unfold.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:51:27.879Z<\/p>\n

Cyclingnews’ full report, analysis and results of today’s racing<\/p>\n

Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9: Jonathan Milan takes decisive stage 2 sprint win<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:49:28.074Z<\/p>\n

And here’s Milan in the yellow as new race leader. He’s also captured the green jersey as new head of the points competition and the white of Best Young Rider.<\/p>\n

\"2025<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:41:47.032Z<\/p>\n

And here’s the new GC with Milan in the top spot overall<\/p>\n

\"2025<\/p>\n

(Image credit: First Cycling)<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:38:57.022Z<\/p>\n

And here’s a breakdown of the top ten for the stage, courtesy of FirstCycling<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"2025<\/p>\n

(Image credit: First Cycling)<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:35:44.988Z<\/p>\n

Some words from the winner and new race leader, dropped on a late Cat.2 climb but able to get back into the action just when it mattered on a day with more than 3,000 metres of climbing: “That was really tough, our goal was to keep building up the condition and get some nice results. Yesterday (Sunday) I was really suffering a lot, \u00a0it was my first race after a long time and today I also suffered a lot.”
“I was really on the limit, but my teammates brought me back, they guided me to the last metres and a massive thanks to them. This victory means a lot to us.”
“We knew we had to get into the last corner in the front and from then on it was just perfect. It was a perfect leadout.”<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:31:19.158Z<\/p>\n

This is Milan’s sixth win of the season, and Lidl-Trek’s 23rd, and it sets him up nicely for the Tour de France, where he’ll be leading the Lidl-Trek squad in the sprints, whilst their Giro d’Italia sprint star Mads Pedersen sits it out and waits for the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:28:23.470Z<\/p>\n

That’s the second third place in a row for Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), which means he’s now the new points leader ahead of Poga\u010dar.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:26:09.650Z<\/p>\n

Milan has also moved into the overall lead, \u00a0tied on time with Poga\u010dar.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:24:45.537Z<\/p>\n

Here’s a first shot of the winner<\/p>\n

\"2025<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:22:16.800Z<\/p>\n

Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious) switched from breakaways on stage 1 to sprints on stage 2 and just edged out Van der Poel for second with a very late burst, whilst Stian Fredheim (Uno-X Mobility) claimed fourth. Milan, though, was in a league of his own.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:20:38.320Z<\/p>\n

Despite Van der Poel’s late reaction, that was never in any doubt for Milan, who maintained a steady line and pace up the right hand-side of the road to finish a bike length clear of his closest pursuers.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:19:04.431Z<\/p>\n

Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) wins stage 2 of the 2025 Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9<\/strong><\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:18:07.930Z<\/p>\n

Milan takes the win, despite Van der Poel coming up hard on the left.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:17:42.310Z<\/p>\n

Milan is second in line\u00a0<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:17:31.439Z<\/p>\n

Lidl lead into the big left hand bend before the finish.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:17:14.357Z<\/p>\n

A counter-line is forming on the far side with Decathlon AG2R on the left. But Lidl respond well.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:16:43.627Z<\/p>\n

Lidl are taking over, with four riders into the final kilometre<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:16:21.649Z<\/p>\n

Lidl-Trek are jockeying for position just behind the UAE line.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:15:56.933Z<\/p>\n

Through a big roundabout, 2km to go, and Narvaez still leads the string.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:15:31.270Z<\/p>\n

Finally Lidl-Trek moving up on the right.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:15:03.844Z<\/p>\n

Into the last three kilometres and Poga\u010dar is still in third place.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:14:32.550Z<\/p>\n

A fast descent and the bunch is still strung out. Speeds of 85kmh.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:13:59.885Z
\nFour kilometres to go<\/p>\n

Acceleration by Tim Wellens over the top of the climb and onto a fast descent, Poga\u010dar still snugly in third place in the pack.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:12:47.699Z<\/p>\n

Alpecin-Deceuninck are piling on the pressure on the slight rise but no sign of Lidl-Trek.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:11:06.959Z
\nSix kilometres to go<\/p>\n

One small drag of barely a kilometre is the last section of uphill on a day with over 3,000 metres of climbing.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:09:44.340Z<\/p>\n

Vingegaard and Poga\u010dar remaining resolutely close to the front, with Wellens guiding the UAE mini-train and Valter doing the same for Visma.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:06:35.019Z<\/p>\n

Back to Plan A. Visma and UAE battling for supremacy at the front of the pack.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:06:03.760Z<\/p>\n

As the race moves back to smoother, broader roads, Bardet is caught, with just under 10 km to go.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:04:37.138Z
\n11 kilometres to go<\/p>\n

Eight seconds the gap. Not quite all over bar the shouting, but almost.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:04:11.750Z<\/p>\n

Barring one small unclassified climb, it’s flat or nearly flat all the way to the finish, making it hard for Bardet to stay away.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:02:38.406Z<\/p>\n

The gap is oscillating between 15 and 20 seconds, sparking memories of how Bardet won the opening stage of the Tour de France last year in the teeth of the peloton. But there’s still a good way to go yet.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T15:00:40.090Z
\n14 kilometres to go<\/p>\n

Lidl-Trek are moving their way to the front of the peloton, to chase for the main favourite of the day, Jonathan Milan. 15 seconds the gap.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:59:46.035Z<\/p>\n

Bardet knows the technical routes like the back of his hand, given he’s born locally, and is making the most of every corner. 12 seconds the gap.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:58:38.574Z<\/p>\n

Bardet heads out of the village which hosted the Cat.4 climb summit and is powering down a long, steady descent. Tomorrow (stage 3), the race will start in his home town of Brioude, but he’s looking to start the party early.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:57:01.476Z<\/p>\n

At the top of the C\u00f4te de Nonette, Bardet has a scant 11 seconds. This is his last ever pro race, of course, and he’s racing on home, so he’s doing his best to go out on a high.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:55:44.892Z<\/p>\n

No reaction from the peloton, as Movistar, Visma and UAE grind out a steady but not overly fast pace behind.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:55:01.541Z<\/p>\n

Romain Bardet (Picnic-PostNL) attacks with 800 metres to go to the top.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:54:37.876Z<\/p>\n

Poga\u010dar is in second position on the left-hand side of the road, Vingegaard in second position on the right.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:54:01.421Z<\/p>\n

Onto the climb and Visma and UAE still tussling at the front<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:52:40.096Z<\/p>\n

The bunch racing at speed in the final hour<\/p>\n

\"2025<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:51:22.558Z<\/p>\n

As the climb approaches, UAE Team Emirates and Visma-Lease a Bike begin to engage in a battle for the lead in the bunch, and as a result, the entire pack is getting increasingly strung-out.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:49:13.834Z<\/p>\n

The early breakaway of the stage, Paul Ourselin (Cofidis) is right at the back now. Barring disaster he’ll be back on the podium with a boosted mountains classification lead.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:48:12.320Z<\/p>\n

Five kilometres to the last of six classified climbs of the day, the Cat.4: C\u00f4te de Nonette (1.8km at 5.7%)<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:47:41.086Z<\/p>\n

25 kilometres to go and the peloton is back on the country roads, thankfully well-surfaced. The pace remains very high.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:46:51.879Z<\/p>\n

Victor Campenaerts, clearly in rising form as he heads towards a likely Tour de France debut with Visma-Lease a Bike, is one of the powerhouses on the front.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:44:19.652Z<\/p>\n

Riders spread right across the width of a course, a double-lane A road, with no team in clear control, but the pace is still nearly 50kmh as the bunch crowns a long drag.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:40:41.338Z
\n30 kilometres to go<\/p>\n

Peloton still together.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:39:42.450Z<\/p>\n

The course is quite exposed as the race moves across a broad plain at the foot of the Massif Central, but there’s virtually no wind, so echelons not on the cards today.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:38:18.481Z<\/p>\n

Poga\u010dar is currently safely placed on the front left-hand part of the peloton in the midst of a small thicket of UAE riders.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:36:38.638Z<\/p>\n

Still no attempts at late breakaways as the peloton move at a steady pace along broad, open high-ways.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:28:04.774Z<\/p>\n

On paper, the biggest obstacle for a bunch sprint today is the Cat.4: C\u00f4te de Nonette (1.8km at 5.7%) at km 186. After that, it’s 18 kilometres to the finish.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:25:14.946Z<\/p>\n

For the first time since the first hour or so, a delegation of UAE riders make their presence known close to the front.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:24:12.012Z<\/p>\n

The bell rings out as the peloton head through the finish. 42.8 kilometres to go.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:22:50.727Z<\/p>\n

The stage has now entered the local circuit for one single loop and will shortly head through the finish for the first time. The next time, it will be for the win.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:21:39.003Z
\n45 kilometres to go<\/p>\n

Break over. Milan and his Lidl-Trek contingent also rejoin the back of the bunch.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:20:37.993Z<\/p>\n

Meanwhile in a quieter moment earlier in the \u00a0race…<\/p>\n

\"2025<\/p>\n

2025 Criterium du Dauphine stage 2: Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:19:13.916Z<\/p>\n

Alpecin-Deceunink are setting a furious pace on the fast, not overly technical downhill to give Milan and Lidl-Trek as hard a job as possible getting back on.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:17:00.494Z
\n50 kilometres to go<\/p>\n

Just 20 seconds between Juul-Jensen and Guernalec and the chasing peloton<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:16:22.506Z<\/p>\n

Behind the peloton an unofficial team time trial has materialised, with Lidl-Trek sending back four riders to help MIlan up to the peloton.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:15:13.339Z<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, elsewhere on Planet Cycling…<\/p>\n

Timo Kielich wins eventful Antwerp Port Epic after aggressive late breakaway<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:13:44.404Z<\/p>\n

Visma-Lease a Bike still leading on the fast, sweeping descent that follows the Cat.2 climb and false flat that followed, touching speeds of over 70kmh.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:12:34.328Z<\/p>\n

Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) is dropped at the back of the bunch on a small section of false flat following the Cat.2 climb and with a bunch sprint increasingly likely, teammates like Edward Theuns are dropping back to help him.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:09:13.891Z<\/p>\n

Juul-Jensen rejoins Guernalec at the front of the stage, but Combaud and earlier attacker Ourselin have been swept up by the peloton.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:07:43.574Z<\/p>\n

Guernalec leads over the top\u00a0ahead of Juul-Jensen, while behind there were no real fireworks in the peloton on the climb.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:06:24.646Z<\/p>\n

Guernalec is dropping Juul-Jensen as the top of the climb approaches.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:05:23.346Z<\/p>\n

Guernalec is a neo-pro and already with one win to his name to date, a stage of the Region Pays de la Loire earlier this season, and he’s putting in a strong performance again today.<\/p>\n

Behind, Visma-Lease a Bike move to the front of the pack. 48 seconds the gap.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:02:27.932Z<\/p>\n

The four breakaways are now on the lower slopes of the Cat.2 C\u00f4te de Chateau de Buron (3.3km at 6.9%) and Juul-Jensen is pressing on. For now, only Guernalec can follow him.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T14:01:20.411Z<\/p>\n

Sprinting opportunities in the Dauphin\u00e9 are traditionally few and far between and today is the first (and arguably least probable) of three opportunities for the fastmen. The others are Tuesday’s stage 3 from Brioude to Charantonnay and stage 5 \u00a0from Saint-Priest to M\u00e2con.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T13:58:10.728Z<\/p>\n

While one breakaway with the GC favourites succeeded yesterday (just) to fend off the sprinters, another move by former British National Champion Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious) didn’t prove so successful. But as Wright told Cyclingnews, it was worth having a go.<\/p>\n

‘If you don’t try, you never know’ – Fred Wright shows positive signs despite foiled attack at Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

2025-06-09T13:54:54.809Z
\n64 kilometres to go<\/p>\n

The gap is inching up and over the 90 second mark, but Alpecin-Deceuninck and Israel-Premier Tech are ensuring it doesn’t go much higher.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T13:50:23.864Z<\/p>\n

The gap for the four ahead is up to 1:21<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T13:48:41.113Z<\/p>\n

Meantime, a photo of the break<\/p>\n

\"2025<\/p>\n

2025 Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9 stage 2: the four-man break\u00a0 (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T13:46:53.100Z<\/p>\n

2018 Tour de Suisse: Juul-Jensen wins stage 4<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

If you’re interested here’s our report about it<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T13:43:37.449Z<\/p>\n

Of the four, Juul-Jensen is by far the most successful, as the only rider with WorldTour wins in his palmares already. The veteran Dane was successful in a week-long stage race break before too, back in the Tour de Suisse in 2018.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T13:38:43.275Z<\/p>\n

The peloton and break are on a couple of kilometres of draggy uphill before the long descent to the foot of the Cat.2 C\u00f4te de Chateau de Buron continues.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T13:28:32.282Z<\/p>\n

For now at least, the counter-attackers are making a real difference to Ourselin’s chances of staying away (as well as their own, of course) and the break has picked up a gap of a minute.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T13:24:35.303Z<\/p>\n

Bahrain Victorious, Lidl-Trek and Alpecin-Deceuninck are leading the chase, but the sprinters will have to get over a Cat.2 climb (and a Cat.4) if they want any chance of victory.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T13:19:15.919Z<\/p>\n

Gap as stands is at 35 seconds<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T13:17:40.879Z<\/p>\n

92 kilometres to go and three counter-attackers have joined Ourselin: Romain Combaud (Picnic-PostNL), Victor Guernalec (Ark\u00e9a-B&B Hotels) and Christopher Juul-Jensen (Jayco-AlUla).<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T13:16:37.038Z
\nSprint results<\/p>\n

Results of the sprint at Olby are through, and despite there being three, two and one seconds on offer, it doesn’t look like the GC riders disputed it.
1. Paul Ourselin (Cofidis)
2. Hugot Page (Intermarch\u00e9-Wanty)
3. Anders Foldager (Jayco-AlAla)\u00a0<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T13:11:13.315Z<\/p>\n

The sprinters’ teams clearly mean business: Ourselin’s advantage has now dropped to under a minute for the first time since he broke away early on the stage and there’s still roughly two hours racing to go.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T13:10:02.803Z<\/p>\n

After a long, grinding unclassified ascent to just over 800 metres above sealevel, we’ve reached the high point of the day’s stage at around 93 kilometres to go. There’s now about 40 kilometres of mostly downhill to the foot of the biggest climb of the day, the Cat.2 C\u00f4te de Chateau de Buron.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T13:03:30.077Z<\/p>\n

After the sprint the peloton’s pace is picking up notably. Ourselin’s advantage is currently plummeting and \u00a0below the two minute mark. Chances he will now make it to the biggest climb of the day, the Cat.2 C\u00f4te de Chateau de Buron at km 147 to get yet more points for his mountains lead, are evaporating fast in the early summer heat.<\/p>\n

\n2025-06-09T12:53:49.523Z
\n100 kilometres to go\n<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T12:52:50.308Z<\/p>\n

Interest in who snatches bonus seconds at the sprint in the peloton – \u00a0currently around four minutes back on Ourselin – will be high, given the GC positions are still very close.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T12:51:33.809Z<\/p>\n

Ourselin claims top points at the sprint in Olby, which, coincidentally, also marks the halfway point for the stage.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T12:49:20.658Z<\/p>\n

Race leader Tadej Poga\u010dar flanked by Marc Soler (L) and Tim Wellens (R), during the stage<\/p>\n

\"2025<\/p>\n

2025 Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9 stage 2: Tadej Poga\u010dar in the bunch (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T12:43:22.804Z<\/p>\n

10 kilometres to go to the one sprint of the day, at Olby.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T12:41:54.971Z<\/p>\n

Another two points for Ourselin at the top of Cat.3 C\u00f4te de Saint Jacques Ambur (3.1km at 5.1%). His gap on the peloton is back on the rise again, too, to 4:20.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T12:17:11.853Z
\n134 kilometres to go<\/p>\n

4:35 the gap<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T12:16:15.239Z<\/p>\n

The peloton has completed over 1,200 metres of vertical climbing today, by the way, but there are still a further 2,000 or so to come. If this remains a transition stage given its position in the race, then it’s still a lot closer to the frontier with a GC day than a lot of the sprinters’ teams might like. \u00a0<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T12:09:06.958Z<\/p>\n

Still to come on the stage 2 menu\u2026<\/p>\n

Km 71.8: Climb:<\/strong> Cat.3 C\u00f4te de Saint Jacques Ambur (3.1km at 5.1%)<\/p>\n

Km 102: Sprint: <\/strong>Olby<\/p>\n

Km 147.1: Climb: <\/strong>Cat.2 C\u00f4te de Chateau de Buron (3.3km at 6.9%)<\/p>\n

Km 186.7: Climb: <\/strong>Cat.4: C\u00f4te de Nonette (1.8km at 5.7%)<\/p>\n

Km 204.6: Finish:<\/strong> Issoire<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T12:07:04.103Z<\/p>\n

Ourselin grabs top points at the summit of the C\u00f4te des Rivauds. Three climbs done today, three to go.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T11:59:23.298Z<\/p>\n

As he moves towards the foot of the third of the six categorized climbs of the day, the Cat.3 C\u00f4te des Rivauds (3.5km at 4.8%), Ourselin’s advantage has dropped to just over four minutes.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T11:50:57.972Z<\/p>\n

Talking of which, Ourselin has reached the summit of another Cat 4 climb, C\u00f4te de Saint-Priest-des-Champs (1.3km at 5%), and brings his KoM total up to six. The bunch at 5:20.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T11:49:15.009Z<\/p>\n

The Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9 peloton seen from the inside of a tractor, somewhere in south-eastern France. Time for a flurry of of clich\u00e9s about breakaway Ourselin making hay while the sun shines, ploughing a lone furrow ahead of the peloton, reaping the benefits of his attack to the full…<\/p>\n

\"2025<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T11:25:04.365Z
\n168 kilometres to go<\/p>\n

For now, the gap between break and bunch is holding steady at 6:15<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T11:24:16.183Z<\/p>\n

Ourselin conquers the first climb of the day, the\u00a0Cat.4 C\u00f4te de la Font Nanaud (3.5km at 4.6%) and boosts his overall lead in the mountains ranking a little. Meanwhile Lidl-Trek are shutting down any counter-moves behind to try and bridge across to the lone leader.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T11:14:44.798Z<\/p>\n

A first shot of stage 2’s lone breakaway, now 6:30 ahead:<\/p>\n

\"2025<\/p>\n

2025 Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9 stage 2: lone breakaway Paul Ourselin in the first hour of racing (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T11:11:35.504Z<\/p>\n

UAE Team Emirates-XRG, riding for race leader Poga\u010dar, begin tapping out a controlling pace on Ourselin as his advantage caps six minutes.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T10:59:41.898Z<\/p>\n

Ourselin’s advantage rises to over four minutes…<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T10:52:19.971Z<\/p>\n

And Ourselin’s advantage is now up to over three minutes and still rising. Bets on how high it can get before the bunch reacts, anyone?<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T10:50:32.209Z<\/p>\n

Ourselin’s gap is up to nearly two minutes and rising. Unless somebody reacts soon and tries to bridge across, it’s going to be a long ol’ lonely day out there for the Cofidis racer.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T10:42:19.855Z
\n196 kilometres to go<\/p>\n

Following multiple counter-attacks, Ourselin tries a second solo move, and rapidly picks up over a minute’s lead on the bunch.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T10:32:26.668Z<\/p>\n

First attack of the day by Paul Ourselin (Cofidis). The Frenchman was already in a break for 140 kilometres on stage 1, getting the lead in the mountains classification for his pains, and looks to be keen to scoop up some more points today.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T10:27:14.431Z<\/p>\n

What’s on the stage 2 menu?<\/p>\n

Km 33.4: Climb: Cat.4<\/strong> C\u00f4te de la Font Nanaud (3.5km at 4.6%)<\/p>\n

Km 50.5: Climb: Cat.4 <\/strong>C\u00f4te de Saint-Priest-des-Champs (1.3km at 5%)<\/p>\n

Km 61.5: Climb: Cat.3 <\/strong>C\u00f4te des Rivauds (3.5km at 4.8%)<\/p>\n

Km 71.8: Climb: Cat.3 <\/strong>C\u00f4te de Saint Jacques Ambur (3.1km at 5.1%)<\/p>\n

Km 102: Sprint: <\/strong>Olby<\/p>\n

Km 147.1: Climb:<\/strong> Cat.2 C\u00f4te de Chateau de Buron (3.3km at 6.9%)<\/p>\n

Km 186.7: Climb:<\/strong> Cat.4: C\u00f4te de Nonette (1.8km at 5.7%)<\/p>\n

Km 204.6: Finish: <\/strong>Issoire<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T10:25:16.238Z<\/p>\n

Weather is a warm 22.1\u00baC by the way, \u00a0it’s dry and there’s a slight crosswind.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T10:24:10.779Z<\/p>\n

And Stage 2 of Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9 from Pr\u00e9milhat to Issoire (204.6km) is underway.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2025-06-09T10:23:02.345Z<\/p>\n

Here’s a map of today’s course. Basically a long grind south over the foothills of the Massif Central, with a 46 kilometre finishing loop, tackled once. The riders will go through the finish at 42.9 kilometres to go.<\/p>\n

\"2025<\/p>\n

2025 Criterium du Dauphin\u00e9 stage 2: map (Image credit: ASO)<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T10:10:07.338Z<\/p>\n

And here’s a shot of the man himself in yellow on the startline this morning.<\/p>\n

\"2025<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T10:07:49.445Z<\/p>\n

Interesting piece of historical data on the Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9 official website: Poga\u010dar is the first reigning Road World Champion to win a mass start stage of the Dauphin\u00e9 since Bernard Hinault back in 1981. Hinault won no less than four stages that year, and the overall, a total which might be beyond even Poga\u010dar’s capabilities. Then again…<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T10:02:10.451Z<\/p>\n

Riders are now on the neutralised section of the stage. Racing starts in just under 20 minutes.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T09:48:11.924Z<\/p>\n

If you missed out on the racing on Sunday, here’s the CN report on how the GC favourites stole a march on the sprinters:<\/p>\n

Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9: Tadej Poga\u010dar wins stage 1 as Jonas Vingegaard rips up the script<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

2025-06-09T09:36:05.076Z<\/p>\n

Riders are currently gathering at the start for a hefty 204.6 kilometre stage, complete with six classified climbs. There’s also a ten kilometre neutralised section, which they’ll begin at 12 noon before racing proper gets underway at 1220 on the outskirts of Pr\u00e9milhat.<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T09:31:48.884Z<\/p>\n

Here’s a reminder of the top 10 on GC after Sunday’s spectacular opening stage, won by Tadej Poga\u010dar (you may have heard of him) after a series of fiery late skirmishes between some of the biggest names on the 2025 Crit\u00e9rium startlist…<\/p>\n

\"2025<\/p>\n

(Image credit: FirstCycling)<\/p>\n

2025-06-09T09:06:41.439Z<\/p>\n

Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews live coverage of stage 2 of the 2025 Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Refresh 2025-06-09T16:06:30.326Z That just about wraps it up for the Cyclingnews live coverage of stage 2. We’ll be…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":170667,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4104],"tags":[4230,79,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-170666","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling","8":"tag-cycling","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114654315936049065","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170666","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=170666"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170666\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/170667"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=170666"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=170666"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=170666"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}