Mathieu van der Poel Triumphs in Thrilling Tour de France Stage

Mathieu van der Poel, representing Alpecin-Deceuninck, emerged victorious in the second stage of the Tour de France, narrowly defeating Slovenian Tadej Pogacar in an intense sprint finish. The tightly contested race saw a large leading group stay together, culminating in Van der Poel's photo finish win after the 209.1km route.

Van der Poel's triumph secured him the coveted yellow jersey, a testament to his endurance on the Tour's longest stage, stretching from Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer. "The final was actually harder than I thought," Van der Poel remarked, acknowledging the competitive nature of his fellow riders on the demanding climbs.

This victory marks Alpecin-Deceuninck's second win in the Tour, following Belgian Jasper Philipsen's success in the opening stage. Despite weather-induced logistical delays, the determined riders tackled the challenging conditions. The Tour continues with stage three from Valenciennes to Dunkirk.

(With inputs from agencies.)