Tour de France stage 2 LIVE: The peloton are controlling the gap to the three man break

The peloton led by Pinarello-Q36.5 has closed the gap to the breakaway to 2’44” with just over 10km to go until the intermediate sprint.

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2026-07-05T13:26:20.436Z

It is a big day for Ayuso as he races in the white best young riders jersey, something that has now been relinquished by the likes of Pogačar, Evenepoel and Vingegaard. He does go up against the likes of Seixas and Del Toro, though. But can he find the form he showed on the climbs in the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes as well as the early point of Paris-Nice and the Volta ao Algarve?

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2026-07-05T13:21:03.476Z

Here is that crash which happened earlier on today…

The break has 3’28” on the peloton.

The break of Engelhardt, Molenaar and Van den Broek have 3’40” on the peloton.

2026-07-05T12:45:08.926Z

Pogačar was the fastest of the riders from the bottom to the top of the Montjuïc climb in yesterday’s TTT giving him the KOM jersey. However, Pidcock was faster in the final 700 metres, which is the steepest part of the climb, averaging over 40kph on the slopes that kick up to around 10%.

2026-07-05T12:39:24.213Z

Veistroffer sits up and has now been caught by the bunch.

2026-07-05T12:39:06.095Z

The temperature is now up to 35°c with Pinarello-Q36.5 deciding that they will take control of the stage as Tom Pidcock looks to take the win today.

2026-07-05T12:37:54.584Z

Jenthe Biermans (COF) back at the doctors car. The medics have had a very busy start to the stage today.

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2026-07-05T12:36:26.454Z

Veistroffer now at +2’35” on the leaders. He won’t be joining them.

2026-07-05T12:35:44.567Z

Second bike change for Girmay after crashing.

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2026-07-05T12:34:20.650Z

The gap yawns open to over three and a half minutes to the three leaders with Veistroffer just under a minute behind them.

2026-07-05T12:33:02.386Z

With Lipowitz being close to the rear of the peloton early on today, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe may be a bit worried as he struggled in the TTT, leaving Remco Evenepoel to kick on alone…

2026-07-05T12:30:09.320Z

No team has come to the front to control things just yet as the gap continues to grow.

2026-07-05T12:26:05.248Z

Some of the big teams now swinging to the side to take comfort breaks as the peloton goes clear.

2026-07-05T12:25:31.591Z

Yet another puncture. It is John Degenkolb (TPP) now.

2026-07-05T12:25:00.456Z

And that is that, the peloton sits up with the leaders getting over a minute. Veistroffer is in the gap at 30″ and will be hoping to join the trio out front.

2026-07-05T12:23:01.443Z

Veistroffer is now in the gap and the peloton looks to have finally eased up.

2026-07-05T12:20:02.743Z

The peloton are trying to calm things down but they can see the break just 17″ up the road and want to bridge as Lotto-Intermarché manage to get a solo rider out of front with the peloton looking happy with that move.

2026-07-05T12:19:03.486Z

Yet another puncture, this time for Damien Howson (PQT).

2026-07-05T12:18:20.468Z

Gate is back at the doctors car after his crash.

2026-07-05T12:17:53.324Z

Counter attacks continue to kick off out of the peloton but they don’t get very far off the front.

2026-07-05T12:16:50.930Z

The three leaders are pushing hard but they only have 12″ on the peloton now.

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2026-07-05T12:14:32.759Z

Puncture

Kevin Vauquelin (NCI)

The Frenchman can’t buy any luck at the moment.

Into the final 100 miles and the leaders have just 22″ on the peloton as the fun and games continue behind.

2026-07-05T12:11:53.692Z

More riders launch counter attacks in the peloton as the pace kicks up again to get into the early breakaway.

2026-07-05T12:10:11.664Z

After that crash the peloton eases with the leading trio taking their chance to pull away.

Aaron Gate (XAT)
Silvan Dillier (APT)
Biniam Girmay (NSN)
Robbe Dhondt (TPP)
Kelland O’Brien (JAY)
Anton Charmig (UXM)
Maxim Van Gils (RBH)
Dorian Godon (NCI)

All seem to be getting back up and setting off again.

2026-07-05T12:06:44.714Z

Engelhardt is joined by Alex Molenaar (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and Frank van den Broek (Picnic-PostNL). They have 17″ on the peloton so far.

2026-07-05T12:05:41.209Z

Interesting to see Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) right near the back of the peloton already. The German struggled in the TTT yesterday and looks to be hurting early on here.

Felix Engelhardt (Jayco-AlUla)

The new German champion goes clear and is joined by a Picnic-PostNL rider with Caja Rural-Seguros RGA launching two riders across.

2026-07-05T12:02:57.364Z

The peloton is stretched right out in one long line as the first attack is caught. Veistroffer isn’t giving up, though.

2026-07-05T12:01:36.645Z

Six riders get a gap with another couple coming across as UAE Team Emirates-XRG chasing it down.

Racing begins and it is the breakaway star Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto-Intermarché) leading the first move of the day.

2026-07-05T11:57:34.629Z

Just 1km to the official start.

2026-07-05T11:57:17.956Z

Multiple issues for riders including Seb Berwick (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) who has a front wheel puncture.

2026-07-05T11:47:56.591Z

Just over 5km left of the neutral in Tarragona.

The riders have started the neutral zone with a couple of issues for riders including Ben O’Connor (Jayco-AlUla).

2026-07-05T11:46:56.925Z

Vingegaard went to the presentation today with a familiar sight of the covid mask as he aims to avoid illness.

2026-07-05T11:32:02.208Z

Just 10 minutes until the neutralised start.

2026-07-05T11:29:58.150Z

The temperature is already above 30°c in Tarragona and will get hotter as the day goes on. It is going to be a tough day in the saddle for the riders who will need to manage the amount of liquid and food they take on throughout the day very carefully.

2026-07-05T11:19:45.107Z

Other riders to come down were about half of the XDS-Astana team. Fortunately, none of them have left the race due to this, but a calamitous start to the race.

2026-07-05T11:18:21.969Z

We do have one non-starter to tell you about, Clement Berthet (Groupama-FDJ United) is the first man to leave the race after crashing in yesterday’s TTT.

2026-07-05T11:06:01.765Z

There are absolutely huge crowds in Tarragona for the rider presentation and neutral start today.

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2026-07-05T10:58:26.106Z

We remain in Catalunya for stage 2 of the race after a rapid and hot TTT in Barcelona yesterday. Relive the action with our post race report below…

2026-07-05T10:57:13.879Z

Bonjour and welcome to Cyclingnews’ live updates of stage 2 at the Tour de France 2026!

Rider presentations are well underway in Taragona before today’s start with the neutralised start coming in around 45 minutes time. The day starts simply enough but turns into a nasty finale with three more times up the Montjuïc climb in Barcelona with over 2500m of elevation. See our in-depth preview below for a deeper dive into what the riders will face today…