Tour de France 2023 Stage 2 LIVE - UAE Emirates in complete control with Adam Yates in yellow and Tadej Pogacar perfectly placed

1. Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) 9'09'18"
2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) +6"
3. Simon Yates (Jayco Alula) +6"
4. Victor Lafay (Cofidis) +12'
5. Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma) +16"

VICTOR LAFAY: I JUST TOLD MYSELF TO GO FOR IT

"I just went for it. I just went out there and did everything I could. I just gave my best, I guess. Yesterday I was a bit frustrated but to do things today, and realise I can do things at this level, be there at the end, that's amazing. It was a really hard pace today but as it got nearer the end I thought maybe I could make it. I knew there would be attacks towards the end and I thought either I can attack in the downhill and do something there. I just said to myself to go for it."

1. Victor Lafay (Cofidis)
2. Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma)
3. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)

That's another three bonus seconds for Pogcar, which should move him up into second place behind his team-mate in the general classification.

He timed that move to absolute perfection, and finishes it off to end a fifteen year Tour de France drought for Cofidis. He came round the left hand side at the flamme rouge and there was just enough hesitation for him to establish enough of a gap that he could carry to the line. In the home straight, as he drew closer to the line, it looked like riders behind were gaining faster and there would be heartbreak for him, but there wasn't. He made it, lifted his arms and becomes a French hero.

Jumbo Visma lead the best riders in the world under the kite, and it's Lafay who launches and gets a very real gap.

And Van Aert chases him down immediately, until the Ineos rider knocks it on the head. Next to try one is the Danish champion Skjelmose, and Van Aert has to do it again.

He and Kelderman are doing all they can to deter attacks and set the stage up for Wout van Aert. Tom Pidcock is there, though. Can he throw something into the mix?

Another bad day for the Australian.

But Jumbo Visma pick him off with, not quite ease, but not too much difficulty, as they approach the San Sebastian finish.

And by "all" I really mean "the remnants" because there can't be many who have survived the decimation by Rafal Majka.

Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious), riding for Gino, remember, leads them down, while Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma) remains vigilant. The Belgian is surely the best pick for the stage at this point?

17KM TO GO: INTO THE BARRIERS, AS THE YELLOW JERSEY TAKES OVER

Before his brother, in green comes round him with - who else? - Pogacar and Vingegaard right where you'd expect them to be. Pogacar times it slightly better and claims the five points and more importantly the eight bonus seconds at the summit. Vingegaard grabs the five, so it's just a three second improvement for the Slovenian. The pair have a lead on the descent but it's not a big one, and the Dane is refusing to work with his team behind.

Powerless to stop the marauding peloton led by the super Pole. Majka has reduced the peloton to the barest of bones. There can only be a few dozen riders left up there. "It's like a high mountain stage!" says Rob Hatch.

20KM TO GO: BIG NAMES DROPPED

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Matteo Jorgensen (Movistar Team)
Biniam Girmay (Intermarché - Circus - Wanty)
Alexey Lutsenko (Astana Qazaqstan Team)
Caleb Ewan (Lotto Dstny)
Fabio Jakobsen (Soudal - Quick Step)
Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies)
Fred Wright (Bahrain - Victorious)
Jordi Meehus (BORA - hansgrohe)

Even Wout van Aert is struggling.

The climb has narrowed, with spectators lining the road making it very hard for anyone to move up. UAE have prepared for this, though and Rafal Majka is setting a strong pace with the team's principles right behind him.

First and second on the general classification, as Nathan Van Hooydonck (Jumbo Visma) has been setting a furious pace that has seen Powless' lead tumble over the first couple of thousand metres of this climb. He's still riding steadily, but it's a long way to the top. I can't seem him making it, but anything is possible.

This is effectively the last thing Powless needs to do today. Make it over this with a reasonable gap and the stage could be his. 800m behind him Jumbo Visma have taken charge at the front, as UAE seem to be paying the price for all the work they've done already. Pogacar is still there where he needs to be and the yellow jersey is a little ways down the bunch.

He's on his way to the Jaizkibel and he knows what he has to do.

And he's had to go solo before taking that point. The American, who is almost in double figures in the mountains competition, still has almost two minutes over the peloton, which is getting a bit tetchy as they all fight for position ahead of this final and pivotal climb.

A very nervy moment as a touch of wheels midway up the bunch sees four riders including Ben O'Connor on the floor. Related, or possibly not, a flat tyre for Jonas Vingegaard means a replacement bike but it's dealt with very quickly and he's back at the front of the bunch in a blink.

A straightforward 2km climb, but how much of a dent the peloton are able to take will tell us how much further the pair ahead will go. Neilson Powless is going to want to keep the Norwegian rider with him but there's no point in waiting up if that will mean the end of his day and kill his chances of taking that extra point.

43KM TO GO: POWLESS TOLD TO GO FOR IT

The first interesting bit of team radio broadcast is from Tom Southam, EF sports director:

"Now we're all in. The cards are on the table, mate. You two are going to have to go."

They still believe, and why not? It could be something very special.