Van der Poel Wins Tour de France Stage 2, Takes Yellow Jersey

Mathieu van der Poel won the second stage of the 2025 Tour de France, a hilly 209.1km route from Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer, narrowly beating defending champion Tadej Pogacar and two-time winner Jonas Vingegaard in a sprint finish. This victory marks Van der Poel's second career stage win at the Tour, earning him the yellow jersey and positioning him as a favorite for classics-style stages. The stage was marked by challenging weather conditions including rain and wind, minor crashes, and tactical climbs, but no decisive attacks from the main contenders. Van der Poel's teammate Jasper Philipsen, the previous yellow jersey holder, is not considered an overall contender, similar to Van der Poel himself. Additionally, the French Cofidis team reported a theft of 11 bikes from their team truck after the opening stage, with each bike valued at approximately 13,000 euros. The ongoing race continues to capture attention with expert commentary and detailed coverage highlighting the strategic and physical demands faced by riders in the early stages.