At 234 kilometers, the second stage of the French stage race was by far the longest of the week. After the start in Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux, the riders faced a rolling course featuring several categorized climbs. Early in the race, a group of ten riders successfully formed the day's breakaway. The leaders quickly built a large gap.  

As the race entered its final phase, the breakaway's lead gradually shrank, but their chances of contesting the stage win were never seriously threatened. The escapees battled among themselves for victory in Le Puy-en-Velay, with the Danish rider Charmig ultimately proving the strongest. The peloton crossed the finish line more than three minutes behind the winner. In the general classification, Ben Tulett now sits fifth, 32 seconds behind leader Alex Baudin.  

Sports director Maarten Wynants reflected on the stage afterward: “This stage could have unfolded in several ways, but in the end it made sense that the early breakaway stayed away today. With tomorrow’s team time trial on the horizon, few teams were interested in taking responsibility for the chase. It wasn’t our place to sacrifice riders in the peloton. This approach allowed us to conserve energy for tomorrow.”  

A crucial team time trial is scheduled for tomorrow. The teams will face off over 28.4 kilometers on a rolling course that includes two climbs along the way. French national time trial champion Bruno Armirail is already looking ahead.  

“We’re at the start here with several riders who will also be racing the Tour de France, so tomorrow’s time trial is definitely a good test,” he said. “You could see it as a rehearsal, but the most important thing is to deliver a strong performance tomorrow. We’re aiming for a top result. On paper, this course should suit me well, but we also have several strong climbers on the team. It’s going to be demanding, but I’ll do everything I can to stay with them on the climbs and contribute to the team effort.”