On the scene at the Tour de France, stages 2 and 3

The Tour’s second stage finished on the flat roads of Bologna, but the place to be to experience the full spectacle of the Tour was on the steep, two-kilometer climb to San Luca, which the riders tackled twice, first 31 kilometers from the finish, and then again with 13 k to go until the finish.

The San Luca climb has to be one of the best places on earth to watch a bike race. I’ve been there before, for two Giro stages and for the finish of the Giro dell’Emilia, but I’ve never before seen this many people, or this level of excitement, on San Luca. In addition to the road to the top, there’s a covered walkway, which is the world’s longest portico, and provides excellent race-viewing positions under its arches. I chose a spot halfway up the climb, where the road passes under the portico.

The breakaway riders were still together on their first pass up San Luca.

A few minutes later, Visma led the peloton up the climb.

Pogacar and Evenepoel were just behind the Visma train.

Romain Bardet enjoying (?) his day in the yellow jersey:

Matej Mohoric:

European champion Christophe LaPorte:

Mathieu Van Der Poel and Silvan Dillier:

The second time up the climb, Kevin Vauquelin had left his breakaway companions behind and was on his solo ride to the stage victory.

It was full polka dots for Jonas Abrahamsen.

This time up, it was Adam Yates leading the favorites’ group, or as we call them in Italy, i big.

Vingegaard and Pogacar:

Roglic and Bardet:

Rui Costa:

Geraint Thomas:

French national champion Paul Lapiera was having a good time whipping up the crowd’s cheers.

Van Der Poel:

Clement Russo impressed with an extended wheelie up and around the corner.

Cavendish came by smiling, and tossed a water bottle to the fans.

Stage three to Torino, one for the sprinters, was won by Biniam Girmay ahead of Fernando Gaviria and Arnaud De Lie.

The GC boys came in looking pretty chill.

The podium ceremony lacked the showiness of the Giro podiums. In what I assume is a continuation of pandemic protocol, the jersey holders came out already wearing their classification jerseys, rather than having someone on the stage present the jersey and help the rider put it on. The riders were handed flowers, but there were no handshakes or cheek kisses. And there was no champagne (or even prosecco). One thing that wasn’t subdued, though, was the obvious joy of Girmay and new race leader Richard Carapaz.