Except for three modest climbs in the first half of the route the course is as flat as can possibly be. But then an enormous bridge looms in the last 25 kilometres. The Storebælsbroen is 18 kilometres long and crosses a strait. Which means the road not only rises – although at shallow gradients -, it’s also extremely exposed.
Remember the 2nd stage of the 2015 Tour de France. That race finished at the artificial island of Neeltje Jans in the Netherlands, located halfway a storm surge barrier. After a sunny start the finale was played out with tormenting winds tearing the peloton to pieces. André Greipel sprinted to victory in the first echelon, which only consisted of 24 men.
When it’s a calm day in Denmark a bunch sprint is next to certain. By winning four stages, Mark Cavendish wrote a fairytale in last year’s Tour de France. After years beset by injury, illness, and mental health struggles, the ManX Express matched Eddy Merckx’ record with 34 stage wins and is now the most successful sprinter in the history of La Grande Boucle.
Favourites 2nd stage 2022 Tour de France
*** Caleb Ewan, Fabio Jakobsen, Wout van Aert
** Mads Pedersen, Jasper Philipsen, Dylan Groenewegen
* Alexander Kristoff, Alberto Dainese, Bryan Coquard
Another interesting read: route 2nd stage 2022 Tour de France.
Tour de France 2022 stage 2: routes & profiles
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