LIVE stage 2 Criterium du Dauphiné 2025 | Will stage 2 deliver the same explosive action as the opening stage?

We start not far from the finish of stage 1: Prémilhat is a suburb of Montluçon. The riders will then head south. The second stage covers hilly terrain: in a period of 40 kilometers, there are four categorized climbs. It is the perfect terrain for a breakaway to make a gap.

The peloton seems to be heading towards the Puy de Dôme, but instead of riding east, it continues south. Clermont-Ferrand, the capital of the Auvergne, is also left behind. Halfway through the race, the riders arrive at Olby, a stone's throw from the famous volcano. There is an intermediate sprint there. The riders then ride along a predominantly downhill road towards the next climb.

The Côte du Château de Buron (3.3 km at 6.9%) opens the final 50 kilometers to the finish. With 43 kilometers to go, the peloton passes the finish line for the first time, after which there is another lap to complete. There is only one other climb after that, but the Côte de Nonette (1.8 km at 5.7%) is 18 kilometers from the finish. In the final kilometers, there is another uncategorized hill, which is flat to the finish in Issoire.

Climbs
Côte de la Font Nanaud (3.5 km at 4.8%)
Côte de Saint Priest des Champs (1.3 km at 4.8%)
Côte des Rivauds (3.6 km at 4%)
Côte de Saint Jacques d'Ambur (3.1 km at 5%)
Côte du Château de Buron (3.2 km at 6.9%)
Côte de Nonette (1.8 km at 5.7%)

Times
Start: 12:20 PM local time (06:20 AM EDT)
Finish: approximately 5 PM local time (11 AM EDT)

A fantastic start near Montluçon, where it will already be above 20 degrees around noon local time. The wind will be blowing diagonally from behind towards Issoire, which will be 24 degrees once the riders arrive. A perfect day for cycling!

After the first stage, it is clear again that these kinds of hilly stages are difficult to predict. We can conclude that Mathieu van der Poel is still among the best despite his wrist injury. Third place was the best he could hope for, but maybe things will work out better in Issoire. However, Tadej Pogacar is unlikely to let him out of his sight. The same goes for Remco Evenepoel.

Normally, we wouldn't pick Jonas Vingegaard for this stage, but after his performance in the first stage, he has to be considered. What if the same scenario occurs? His second place was promising. For the other attackers, we are mainly looking at men such as Ben Healy (EF Education - EasyPost), Maxim Van Gils (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Axel Laurance (INEOS Grenadiers), and Ben Tulett (Visma | Lease a Bike).

But the fast men are hoping for revenge after their bizarre first chance. Jonathan Milan was ultimately beaten in the hills, and he will undoubtedly hope for a second attempt in Issoire. His biggest opponents in the sprint are Pascal Ackermann (Israel - Premier Tech) and Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility), both riders who can also survive a nasty little hill.

Outsiders among the fast men are Jake Stewart (Israel - Premier Tech), who is capable of taking over Ackermann's sprint duties if he falls behind. If the really fast men disappear, he will have a chance, but so might Emilien Jeannière (TotalEnergies), Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), and Hugo Page (Intermarché-Wanty). Sam Watson (INEOS Grenadiers) is also a fast finisher.

Top favorites: Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Outsiders: Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates - XRG), Pascal Ackermann (Israel - Premier Tech), Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility), Jake Stewart (Israel - Premier Tech), Ben Healy (EF Education - EasyPost) and Maxim Van Gils (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Long shots: Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Sam Watson, Axel Laurance (INEOS Grenadiers), Hugo Page (Intermarché-Wanty), Emilien Jeannière (TotalEnergies), Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step), Ben Tulett and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)