TDF 2024:- Stage 2: Cesenatico - Bologna 198.7km ***Spoilers***
Stage 2: Cesenatico - Bologna 198.7km
June 30th
Start Time: 11-15BST
Stage 2 will take the riders across the rolling hills of the Emilia-Romagna region from Marco Pantani’s hometown of Cesenatico to Bologna, via Imola and its famous motor racing circuit, and over the roads of the 2020 World Championships won by Julian Alaphilippe.
The 198.7km route with 1,850 metres of climbing is well-suited for puncheurs with the finale featuring the climb to the Sanctuary of San Luca, the traditional finale of the Giro dell’Emilia which will be tackled twice in the final 40km.
Profile.
Map.
The Climbs.
Côte de Monticino (Cat. 3)
Côte de Gallisterna (Cat. 3)
![tour-de-france-2024-stage-2-climb-n2-cb6ade0899[1].jpg](https://forum.bikeradar.com/uploads/9YKJ2QETOCX3/tour-de-france-2024-stage-2-climb-n2-cb6ade0899-5b1-5d.jpg)
Côte de Bottehgino di Zocca (Cat. 4)
Côte de Montecalvo (Cat. 3)
![tour-de-france-2024-stage-2-climb-n4-07083d0741[1].jpg](https://forum.bikeradar.com/uploads/JLQXYX2U00L1/tour-de-france-2024-stage-2-climb-n4-07083d0741-5b1-5d.jpg)
Côte de San Luca (Cat. 3) (1st time)
Côte de San Luca (Cat. 3) (2nd time, Bonus point)
1850m of climbing.
![san-luca-profile[1].png](https://forum.bikeradar.com/uploads/ABIFQX2PLADT/san-luca-profile-5b1-5d.png)
Final Kilometres
The riders cross the line in Bologna to enter two identical laps of 19 kilometer, both featuring an intriguing combo. The climb to the sanctuary of San Luca – 1.9 kilometres at 10.6% – and the climb to Montalbano – 1 kilometre at 5.4% – are divided by a 1.5 kilometres downhill. The last 9 kilometres of each lap are half on descent, half on the flat.
![stage-1-route-finale[1].jpg](https://forum.bikeradar.com/uploads/Q6SETDY2YGWP/stage-1-route-finale-5b1-5d.jpg)
![stage-2-profile-finale[1].jpg](https://forum.bikeradar.com/uploads/2D740ATUCD5U/stage-2-profile-finale-5b1-5d.jpg)
The circuit brings the riders to the finish line at Piazza Maggiore.
What to Expect.
Although it’s safe to say that the route is similar to a Spring Classic, but in a Grand Tour, does sprint from a small group seems to be the most likely outcome? Well, with the likes of Mathiue van der Poel and Wout van Aert in the race, that could be the case. On the other hand, although this time, the stage finishes after a downhill, the Giro de Emilia podium featured Primoz Roglic, Tadej Pogacar and Simon Yates.....
Cesenatico
Municipality in the province of Forli-Cesena in Emilia-Romagna
No previous stage.
Population: 26,000
CESENATICO AND CYCLING
It was in Cesenatico, the ancient port of Cesena, that Marco Pantani (see below) grew up and discovered his passion for cycling. It is also the birthplace of Dalia Muccioli, Italian road champion in 2013. This seaside resort on the Adriatic has hosted the Giro ten times, most recently in 2020, when Ecuador's Jhonatan Narvaez won solo. The Marco Pantani Memorial has been held in the city since 2004. Its last winner in 2023 was Alexey Lutsenko.
![marco_pantani_portrait[1].jpg](https://forum.bikeradar.com/uploads/S3E2G6OPSRHU/marco-pantani-portrait-5b1-5d.jpg)
Squacquerone of Romagna
Squacquerone di Romagna is a fresh cheese made from pasteurised whole cow's milk. It is generally sold in pebbles weighing between 100 g and 2 kg. Squacquerone di Romagna has neither rind nor skin. It has a pearly white paste, a sticky, very creamy texture and a mild, slightly acidic flavour with a grassy note. It can only be produced in the provinces of Ravenna, Forlì-Cesena, Rimini, Bologna and in the south-east of the province of Ferrara, in Emilia-Romagna.
Bologne
Capital of Emilia-Romagna
No previous stage.
Population: 395,000
BOLOGNA AND CYCLING
Bologna is also home to the start and finish of the Giro d'Emilia, which has been held since 1909 and is one of the races held at the end of the season: its last three winners were Primoz Roglic twice (2021, 2023) and Enric Mas (2022), while some of the biggest names in Italian cycling have won here (Coppi, Bartali, Girardengo, Moser, Bugno). The Giro has stopped off in Bologna 23 times, most recently for the Grand Depart in 2019, when Primoz Roglic won ahead of Simon Yates and Vincenzo Nibali in the 8-km time trial that opened the event.
Bolognese.
The real Bolognese sauce does come from Bologna, but here it's called Al Ragu sauce, and it's mainly served with... tagliatelle. 8 mm wide to be precise, which have a much better grip. It can also be enjoyed with penne or rigatoni. The method is to mix some minced meat (pork or beef) with an onion, a clove of garlic, a carrot, some celery and some Italian tomato pulp, then add a little wine, a little milk and a few aromatic herbs. Simmer for at least two hours before serving.
Comments
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Think they'll be pretty surprised if they find themselves on that Rimini finish again @blazing_saddles
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I told you that I was having problems.😉
This software has a mind of it's own. I can't edit now either. It really is a joke.
Final Kilometres.
![stage-2-route-finale[1].jpg](https://forum.bikeradar.com/uploads/2DT7J2OFQQP1/stage-2-route-finale-5b1-5d.jpg)
![stage-2-profile-finale[3].jpg](https://forum.bikeradar.com/uploads/QD6P8PYH0TFB/stage-2-profile-finale-5b3-5d.jpg)
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.4 -
Wrong thread.
The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
Any excuse to share one of my favourite “big ring” rides.
Ulrich grinding it out in the Giro dell’Emilia on today’s final climb
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Attacking in the drops like a dude as well.
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Flamingoes!
Not the usual animal spots for The Tour
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My dark horse of the day is Maxim van Gils. He was right up there yesterday.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Fairly quick start here, they're desperate to get out of Cesenatico because the streets are lined by old dudes in their budgie-smugglers, and nobody needs to see that
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According to Boulting on ITV4 there’s a possibility of echelons later in the stage…..
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Looks like we have a sizeable break of the day.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Mathews and Van Moer potato hunting and losing time
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Cavendish off the back already?
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Just a bike change I think
- Genesis Croix de Fer
- Dolan Tuono0 -
Around about the sprint point?
Big long (25km?) straight from imola towards bologna, with what would be a cross head wind if it's the same direction as now.
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Low thirties today apparently, so a lot better than yesterday.
I cease all physical activity at 23 and melt at 26 though
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Ice packs now in evidence.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Back
That's a big gap ?! This break going the distance?
Anything happened?
No interest from Bora or UAE?
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
He did alright yesterday... Though should poss have been relegated in the sprint 😅
Back to today, bit of sidewind in evidence. No echelons but Bahrain riders started a second front to protect their climbers.
In around 10km is where it could happen according to Danish coms
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Does this stage include the ~2km 10% Bologna climb that's in Zwift?
I wonder if a few big names will be visible today, the likes of Rog/Mvdp/Pid were very quiet yesterday.
Breakaway just over 8mins up the road feels like a big gap, for someone who doesn't watch much pro racing.
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2020 Voodoo Marasa
2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
2016 Voodoo Wazoo0 -
Not even hit the first climb yet, so nothing to have triggered shenanigans:
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8 mins is a lot to bring back . Dsm ain't going to do it v
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
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Makes you wonder why Dan Martin never gave himself a crash like that.
Bet he’s able to see a GP when he needs to as well.
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Rare to see a break given this much time in recent years, especially a decent sized group and so early in the race. I guess yesterday resulted in so much time loss there’s no-one who is a serious risk and most riders are already out of contention of a day in yellow.
I was pleased to see Abrahamsen take the KoM yesterday but seeing the full polka dots today I’m wishing he missed out.
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