Spain 2nd July, 2023: Victor Lafay (Cofidis) sprung a huge surprise to win Stage 2 at the 2023 Tour de France as the fancied Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) was left to rue indecision in the final kilometre.
Cofidis ended their 15-year drought at the Tour de France as Victor Lafay lit up the final kilometre to win Stage 2 in San Sebastian. The Frenchman somehow held off a large chase group containing Wout van Aert, who gesticulated in frustration after taking second place ahead of Tadej Pogacar. Adam Yates retained the yellow jersey, with team-mate Tadej Pogacar closing after taking 12 bonus seconds
Lafay caught Jumbo-Visma napping with a blistering attack under the flamme rouge, with Wilco Kelderman and Van Aert reacting too late as the Frenchman held on for the unlikeliest of victories.
Action from CYCLING World Tour 2023 – Tour De France – Stage 3 – Amorebieta-Etxano – Bayonne can be watched LIVE on EUROSPORT and EUROSPORT HD 19:30 Hrs (07:30 pm IST) onwards on Monday, 03rd July, 2023. Eurosport channel can be streamed on the discovery+ app.
It was a good day for Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) as the two-time champion grabbed 12 bonus seconds – eight on the Alto de Jaizkibel and four more with third place in the sprint – to move second in the general classification behind team-mate Adam Yates.
The day sparked into life on the Cat. 2 Alto de Jaizkibel, the focal point of Clasica San Sebastian, as Rafal Majka (UAE Team Emirates) decimated the pack before Yates took up the running to tee up Pogacar’s bid for a mid-stage time bonus.
Pogacar saw off Vingegaard in a summit sprint as the pair sailed clear on the descent, with the Slovenian looking for his rival to come through a turn – an invitation that was rejected – before easing off and allowing a large group to re-join with 12km remaining.
After Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious) was reeled in following an audacious move on the descent, Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) launched with 3km remaining but was tracked by Van Aert. With Jumbo resuming control, or so they thought, Lafay caught them napping with a brilliant attack as he stayed away to end Cofidis’ 15-year drought at the Tour.
