Markel Beloki takes Tour de l’Ain spotlight as Wout Poels and the Rockets miss out
CyclingWednesday, 29 July 2026 at 17:02
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Follow us on GoogleMarkel Beloki claimed victory on stage two of the Tour de l’Ain. The 21-year-old Spaniard from EF Education-EasyPost secured the first professional win of his career by attacking his rivals on the mountainous stage and reaching the finish with a commanding advantage. Noa Isidore of Decathlon CMA CGM finished second, 55 seconds behind. Wout Poels of Unibet Rose Rockets was unable to stay with the strongest riders at the decisive moments.
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Results of Stage 2 of the 2026 Tour de l'Ain
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- - Vamos Tadej! Poetry on wheels. C’est magnifique, bravo campione!robert6528-07-2026
- - Merckx saying no competition feels off—what about Vingegaard in full form, and Roglic on the Giro/Vuelta blocks? There’s competition, just inconsistent due to crashes and form peaks. Still, Tadej is the most versatile since Indurain.breakawaybikerd28-07-2026
- - So Pogacar has five Tours already, but why is that a bigger deal than, say, winning the World Championships? Are the Grand Tours ranked differently?samanthak28-07-2026
- - Brilliant piece. You captured how he meters effort on long climbs and still rips everyone off the wheel. Also love the nod to Tour de l’Avenir—people forget how early he was bossing stages.tourdeforce928-07-2026
- - Slightly sceptical about the “win all three Grand Tours in one season” bit. The calendar density and recovery windows are still brutal, even with modern prep. Would love it, but sounds a tad romantic from Eddy.andrewf28-07-2026
- - Goosebumps reading Hinault and Merckx basically anointing Pogacar. Five Tours by 27 is bonkers. The Alpe d’Huez comparison to Pantani’s time… that’s era-adjusted or raw time? If raw, that’s massive given modern pacing and wind.jeremya28-07-2026
- - Not sure I buy the “Lance had no talent” line. That’s a bit extreme from LeMond. You can condemn the methods without rewriting the guy’s baseline physiology. Still, Pog is the real deal, no asterisks.cadencekingm28-07-2026
- - Loved LeMond on the podium, 40 years on. Class act. But the article downplays how much Pog’s handling and race craft matter—he’s not just watts, he’s a killer descender and positions flawlessly into crosswinds.jeremya28-07-2026
- - Quick question: when they mention VO2 max, what kind of numbers are we talking for Pogacar compared to, say, peak Froome or Indurain? Is there public data or just educated guesses?robert6528-07-2026
- - Armstrong trying to redefine the “record” is rich. The official books say five, end of. If Tadej chases six or seven, it’ll be for legacy, not to validate someone else’s narrative.davidm28-07-2026
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