Live report recap - Critérium du Dauphiné 2025 Stage 2

Hello everybody and welcome to Domestique Live for stage 2 Critérium du Dauphiné. My name is Ethan and thanks for joining me again. Stage one was absolutely epic, will stage 2 live up to those high expectations?

Take a read of our Domestique stage report if you managed to miss the stage yesterday, or if you would like a refresher: Tadej Pogacar takes stage 1 at Critérium du Dauphiné as big guns deny sprinters

The second stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné is a 204 km stage from Prémilhat, finishing in Issoire. The peloton will tackle 2792m of elevation gain, with the majority appearing in the opening third of the stage. There are some slight kickers near the line, so a repeat of yesterday is not ruled out of the realms of possible. The stage will get underway at 12:20 CET and will finish approximately 17:00 CET. 

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The stage will be commencing in 20 minutes time. Live broadcast will not be available until 15:25 CET depending on your local broadcast provider. If you require more information on the broadcast. How to watch the 2025 Critérium du Dauphiné: TV schedule, live worldwide streaming

The Antwerp Port Epic is also happening today, we will bring you the latest results from there as soon as they're available. 

The second stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné is officially underway!

So far, over the past few kilometres we have seen some attacks which didn't come to fruition. Then, the Polka Dot Jersey holder, Paul Ourselin (Cofidis) broke free of the peloton and has obtained a gap already over a minute. 192 km reamain.

Paul Ourselin (Cofidis) has extedned his gap over the past kilometres even further, with it sitting at 3'50" currently. The Cofidis rider is about to extend his KOM lead even further.

The category 4, Côte de la Font Nanaud (3.5 km at 4.8%) is the first classified climb of the day. With the gap between Paul Ourselin (Cofidis) and the peloton at 6 minutes, Ourselin is almost guarenteed the sole point on offer.

1st: Paul Ourselin (Cofidis) (1 point)

168 km remain with the gap at 6'30 between Ourselin and the peloton.

So far, over the course of the stage, both Lidl - Trek and UAE Team Emirates - XRG have been pulling at the front of the peloton. 

164 km remain -  Time gap sits at 6'16".

1st: Paul Ourselin (Cofidis) (1 point)

153 km remain with the gap at 5'20" between Ourselin and the peloton.

The category 3 climb of the Côte des Rivauds (3.6 km at 4%) is up next for the riders. For Paul Ourselin (Cofidis), he is likely to take the 2 points on offer leaving one remaining for the peloton.  

147 km remain with the gap at 5'04" between Ourselin and the peloton.

1st: Paul Ourselin (Cofidis) (2 point)

2nd: Johan Price-Pejtersen (Alpecin - Deceuninck) (1 point)

With 137 km remaining, still Paul Ourselin (Cofidis) is alone at the front of the race with a gap of 4'20" over the peloton.

Read more on the story here: Arnaud De Lie abandons Antwerp Port Epic after injuring elbow in crash

1st: Paul Ourselin (Cofidis) (2 point)

2nd: Victor Guernalec (Arkéa - B&B Hotels) (1 point)

123km remain - Gap sits at 5'05" to Ourselin.

Still, Paul Ourselin (Cofidis) is alone with a 4'20"advantage over the peloton with the single intermediate sprint of the day coming up. 2 and 1 bonus seconds will be on offer to the peloton. 108km remain.

Paul Ourselin won the intermediate sprint of the day. 94km remain as the gap is now starting to tumble to Ourselin with it now sitting at 1'30".

1st: Paul Ourselin (Cofidis) (10 points) (3 seconds)

2nd: Hugo Page (Intermarché - Wanty) (6 points) (2 seconds)

3rd: Anders Foldager (Team Jayco AlUla) (4 points) (1 second)
 

Chris Juul-Jensen (Jayco AlUla), Victor Guernalec (Arkea-B&B Hotels) and 
Romain Combaud (Picnic PostNL) have joined Paul Ourselin (Cofidis) at the front of the race. The gap between the group and the peloton is 45".

The peloton will be tackling the Cat 2. Côte du Chateau de Buron next as the gap to the four ahead is out to one minute.

A little descent coming up for the riders then the Cat 2. Côte du Chateau de Buron begins. Gap sits at 1'06" with 74km to go.

In the peloton still Lidl - Trek, like they have done all day, continue to working on the front of the peloton. 67km remain and the gap sits at 1'25".

Antwerp Port Epic Result 

The pace is truly starting to ramp up behind the group of four ahead with 60 km remaining.

Victor Guernalec (Arkéa - B&B Hotels) wins the KOM on Chateau de Buron taking maximum points.

With the pace turning up, Jonathan Milan (Lidl - Trek) has been distanced slightly, but he has three teammates with him working to bring him back.

The Milan group is nearly on the back of the peloton which is being hammered by Alpecin - Deceuninck and Team Visma | Lease a Bike.

The breakaway has been caught with 45 km to go and the MIlan group has successfully bridged across to the peloton.

The bell rings for the final lap of the local circuit with the race all back together with 42km remaining.

Still 35km to go in what looks likely to be a bunch sprint coming up soon. Still all together.

The situation remains the same as a bit or 'argy bargy' is going on in the peloton as the riders go through a section of narrow roads. 

Just the final Cat.4 climb, Côte de Nonette and a few little kickers to go. Let's see if the Jonathan Milan (Lidl - Trek) and the other fast men can hang on.

The Frenchmen, close to his home, goes on the attack on the Côte de Nonette!

He has a gap of 10" and the peloton keeps a high tempo but are content to let Bardet go clear, for now.

In his last ever professional cycling race of his career, on his home roads, this would be special if Romain Bardet pulls this off. His gap is going out to 20"!

The gap is now reducing as Lidl - Trek are working on the front of the peloton to set up their man, Jonathan Milan for the sprint victory.

A nice effort from Romain Bardet as he is caught as the riders are into the last 10km!

Who is going to win stage 2?

The full Stage 2 result!

He moves into the yellow jersey after his stage victory.

Speaking in his post-race interview, Milan said "That was really tough, our goal was to come here to build up the condition and to get some nice results."

Read our Domestique Stage report here Jonathan Milan powers to sprint victory on stage 2 of Critérium du Dauphiné.

Critérium du Dauphiné: Results and standings after stage 2

Thanks everyone for joining myself Ethan and the team, for the stage today. We will see you tomorrow for another likely fast finish!