Critérium du Dauphiné stage 2 live: will the GC challengers go on the attack again?

After the sprint the peloton's pace is picking up notably. Ourselin's advantage is currently plummeting and  below the two minute mark. Chances he will now make it to the biggest climb of the day, the Cat.2 Côte de Chateau de Buron at km 147 to get yet more points for his mountains lead, are evaporating fast in the early summer heat.

100 kilometres to go

Interest in who snatches bonus seconds at the sprint in the peloton -  currently around four minutes back on Ourselin - will be high, given the GC positions are still very close.

Ourselin claims top points at the sprint in Olby, which, coincidentally, also marks the halfway point for the stage.

Race leader Tadej Pogačar flanked by Marc Soler (L) and Tim Wellens (R), during the stage

10 kilometres to go to the one sprint of the day, at Olby.

Another two points for Ourselin at the top of Cat.3 Côte de Saint Jacques Ambur (3.1km at 5.1%). His gap on the peloton is back on the rise again, too, to 4:20.

134 kilometres to go

4:35 the gap

The peloton has completed over 1,200 metres of vertical climbing today, by the way, but there are still a further 2,000 or so to come. If this remains a transition stage given its position in the race, then it's still a lot closer to the frontier with a GC day than a lot of the sprinters' teams might like.  

Still to come on the stage 2 menu…

Km 71.8: Climb: Cat.3 Côte de Saint Jacques Ambur (3.1km at 5.1%)

Km 102: Sprint: Olby

Km 147.1: Climb: Cat.2 Côte de Chateau de Buron (3.3km at 6.9%)

Km 186.7: Climb: Cat.4: Côte de Nonette (1.8km at 5.7%)

Km 204.6: Finish: Issoire

Ourselin grabs top points at the summit of the Côte des Rivauds. Three climbs done today, three to go.

As he moves towards the foot of the third of the six categorized climbs of the day, the Cat.3 Côte des Rivauds (3.5km at 4.8%), Ourselin's advantage has dropped to just over four minutes.

Talking of which, Ourselin has reached the summit of another Cat 4 climb, Côte de Saint-Priest-des-Champs (1.3km at 5%), and brings his KoM total up to six. The bunch at 5:20.

The Critérium du Dauphiné peloton seen from the inside of a tractor, somewhere in south-eastern France. Time for a flurry of of clichés about breakaway Ourselin making hay while the sun shines, ploughing a lone furrow ahead of the peloton, reaping the benefits of his attack to the full...

168 kilometres to go

For now, the gap between break and bunch is holding steady at 6:15

Ourselin conquers the first climb of the day, the Cat.4 Côte de la Font Nanaud (3.5km at 4.6%) and boosts his overall lead in the mountains ranking a little. Meanwhile Lidl-Trek are shutting down any counter-moves behind to try and bridge across to the lone leader.

A first shot of stage 2's lone breakaway, now 6:30 ahead:

UAE Team Emirates-XRG, riding for race leader Pogačar, begin tapping out a controlling pace on Ourselin as his advantage caps six minutes.

Ourselin's advantage rises to over four minutes...

And Ourselin's advantage is now up to over three minutes and still rising. Bets on how high it can get before the bunch reacts, anyone?

Ourselin's gap is up to nearly two minutes and rising. Unless somebody reacts soon and tries to bridge across, it's going to be a long ol' lonely day out there for the Cofidis racer.

196 kilometres to go

Following multiple counter-attacks, Ourselin tries a second solo move, and rapidly picks up over a minute's lead on the bunch.

First attack of the day by Paul Ourselin (Cofidis). The Frenchman was already in a break for 140 kilometres on stage 1, getting the lead in the mountains classification for his pains, and looks to be keen to scoop up some more points today.

What's on the stage 2 menu?

Km 33.4: Climb: Cat.4 Côte de la Font Nanaud (3.5km at 4.6%)

Km 50.5: Climb: Cat.4 Côte de Saint-Priest-des-Champs (1.3km at 5%)

Km 61.5: Climb: Cat.3 Côte des Rivauds (3.5km at 4.8%)

Km 71.8: Climb: Cat.3 Côte de Saint Jacques Ambur (3.1km at 5.1%)

Km 102: Sprint: Olby

Km 147.1: Climb: Cat.2 Côte de Chateau de Buron (3.3km at 6.9%)

Km 186.7: Climb: Cat.4: Côte de Nonette (1.8km at 5.7%)

Km 204.6: Finish: Issoire

Weather is a warm 22.1ºC by the way,  it's dry and there's a slight crosswind. 

And Stage 2 of Critérium du Dauphiné from Prémilhat to Issoire (204.6km) is underway.

Here's a map of today's course. Basically a long grind south over the foothills of the Massif Central, with a 46 kilometre finishing loop, tackled once. The riders will go through the finish at 42.9 kilometres to go.

And here's a shot of the man himself in yellow on the startline this morning.

Interesting piece of historical data on the Critérium du Dauphiné official website: Pogačar is the first reigning Road World Champion to win a mass start stage of the Dauphiné since Bernard Hinault back in 1981. Hinault won no less than four stages that year, and the overall, a total which might be beyond even Pogačar's capabilities. Then again...

Riders are now on the neutralised section of the stage. Racing starts in just under 20 minutes.

If you missed out on the racing on Sunday, here's the CN report on how the GC favourites stole a march on the sprinters:

Critérium du Dauphiné: Tadej Pogačar wins stage 1 as Jonas Vingegaard rips up the script

Riders are currently gathering at the start for a hefty 204.6 kilometre stage, complete with six classified climbs. There's also a ten kilometre neutralised section, which they'll begin at 12 noon before racing proper gets underway at 1220 on the outskirts of Prémilhat.

Here's a reminder of the top 10 on GC after Sunday's spectacular opening stage, won by Tadej Pogačar (you may have heard of him) after a series of fiery late skirmishes between some of the biggest names on the 2025 Critérium startlist...

Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews live coverage of stage 2 of the 2025 Critérium du Dauphiné