Sunday’s Stage 2 of the 2024 Tour de France promises to be an epic affair on a number of fronts as the race continues its colourful visit to Italy. Romain Bardet's Stage 1 triumph was a gem for the viewers who simply turned on the television by chance and enjoyed the uncertainty and excitement of the finish. Meanwhile, hardcore cycling fans will have enjoyed several added dimensions to the scintillating win on the Rimini seafront, knowing that it was a high point of a sporting career that will not last forever. The talented French climber of Team dsm-firmenich PostNL got rid of the 'Poulidor syndrome' that has followed him around for some time, despite him already being a consistent high achiever. Finally, Bardet is proudly dressed in yellow.
Sunday’s second stage will cover 199.2 km between Cesenatico and Bologna, with the riders facing the challenge of two San Luca climbs at the end of the afternoon. The beautiful and demanding climb was premiered in the Giro d'Italia back in 1956 and is familiar to many of the key players in the 2024 peloton. The stage will begin in Marco Pantani's Cesenatico, but ultimately will not end in front of the Sanctuary of the Virgin of San Luca, as it has in the Giro d'Italia in the past and did in the Giro dell'Emilia in 2023, when Primoz Roglic just beat Tadej Pogacar to the finish line. The Tour de France is always different and Stage 2 will see the riders dash for the finish in the centre of Bologna after their second San Luca descent.
