
It is at 511 meters above sea level, in the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz, that the second stage of the Tour de France will start on Sunday 2 July. Sea direction, in San Sebastian, not far from the Franco-Spanish border.
After an uneven first stage, the riders will continue with a second day which will not be easy. On the programme: 209 kilometers and five listed climbs. The summit of the most important, the Jaizkibel (8.1 kilometers at 5.3%, 2And category), is located 17 kilometers from the finish line. Bonuses (eight, five and two seconds) will also be distributed for the top three at the top of the leaderboard.
Jaizkibel is not unknown to the group as it is used every year for the Clasica San Sebastian. The next edition of this race, scheduled for July 29, will also pass by the coast of Alkiza (4.2 kilometers at 5.7%, 3And category), which appears on the route of this second stage of the Grande Boucle. Winner of the Clasica in 2018, Julian Alaphilippe may have fond memories of him.
So you have to master the downhill to hope to win in San Sebastián. The finish is judged along the Zurriola beach after a sharp curve to the left, almost at a right angle, about 500 meters from the finish line. But there is little chance that the field will still be close at this point in the race.