Critérium du Dauphiné
Stage 2: Mauriac to Craponne-sur-Arzon
Historical Note
Stage 2 of the actual race took place on 10 June 2019 and the 180 km-stage (111.8 miles) was won in 4 hours 12 minutes and 4 seconds by the Belgian rider Dylan Teuns from the Bahrain-Merida team.
Above: Flamme Rouge track layout for Stage 2, using track tiles from the base game and Peloton expansion. The finish line is in the foreground. Layout size: approx. 124 cm x 66 cm (c. 49 in x 26 in).
Left: Schematic representation of the stage recreated using the Flamme Rouge Companion App designed by Benoit Gourdin; the illustration shows the track tiles required to create the stage and also the appropriate ordering; there is also a depiction of the contours of the stage.
The Race
The riders gather for the start.
Blue Mountain try to beak away, but Federico Bianchi sticks with them.
The Yellow Jersey, Niklas Groen from Racing Green, took 3 exhaustion cards into this stage, while his team-mate Frankie Moss was exhaustion-free. Unlike the first stage which had been a medium mountain stage, stage 2 was classified as hilly. In theory, this might give the Sprinteurs more of an opportunity to shine than had been the case in the race from Aurillac to Jussac.
The stage started off at a steady pace with the peloton keeping together. This lasted until the first bend in the course, when the two Blue Mountain riders, together with Hansie Pienk of Rose Racers, made a break as the riders head onto the first cobbled section of the course. The peloton reformed as the riders climbed the first ascent, but Héctor Azul was able to hold off the competition to clinch the 1 Mountain point available.
Héctor seals first Mountain points, but peloton reforms. Racing Green bring up the rear.
Following the first climb the riders passed through another cobbled section before tackling another short climb which Azul also reached first, claiming the point. The course then turned back on itself allowing the head of the field to view the rear of the peloton which must have been a demoralising sight for the stragglers. Unfortunately, Niklas Groen, victor of the first stage, was one of those. His attempts at moving up the field were continuously blocked by other riders. Following this climb, Kyle Blackstone of Black Eagle Racing began to make his move, shadowed by Michał Czerwiński of the Red Dragons. The latter was later to pay dearly for this pace, as he had a torrid time in the final sections of the stage.
Peloton rules mid-stage.
João rips the peloton apart with his blistering finish!
The third short climb was taken by Blackstone, who was then joined by his team-mate Battoyrog for the final, longer ascent. Blackstone and Battoyrog took 3 and 1 points, respectively, here, while Azul squeezed in between them to seal the remaining 2 Mountain points. As the riders approach the finish, João Ultramar demonstrated just why he is the world-beater he is by pulling out of nowhere a powerful sprint finish which simply blew the race apart. Ultramar managed to finish a country mile ahead of the chasers. In so doing, the Brazilian snatched the Yellow Jersey from Niklas Groen, who dropped to fifth place in the General Classification and will take 3 exhaustion cards into the next stage. The day’s Combativity Award went to Héctor Azul.
The Winner!
João Ultramar (Blue Mountain) takes the stage and receives the applause of his fellow competitors.
There is still a way to go in the Critérium du Dauphiné, but things are looking good for the Caribbean outfit. Let us hope they don’t get carried away.
Stage Result
- João Ultramar (Blue Mountain)
- Héctor Azul (Blue Mountain) + 1’20”
- Kyle Blackstone (Black Eagle Racing) + 1’30”
- Michel Blanc (Team Camargue) + 1’30”
- Niklas Groen (Racing Green) + 2’30”
- Rock Salmon (Rose Racers) + 2’50”
- Khariyn Battoyrog (Black Eagle Racing) + 3’40”
- Hansie Pienk (Rose Racers) + 3’40”
- Federico Bianchi (Team Camargue) + 4’40”
- Rhys Coch (Red Dragons) + 4’40”
- Frankie Moss (Racing Green) + 4’40”
- Michał Czerwiński (Red Dragons) + 7’30”
General Classification (after Stage 2/8)
- João Ultramar
- Héctor Azul + 30”
- Kyle Blackstone + 30”
- Michel Blanc + 1’10”
- Niklas Groen + 1’30”
- Rock Salmon + 2’00”
- Rhys Coch + 4’40”
- Khariyn Battoyrog + 4’50”
- Hansie Pienk + 4’50”
- Frankie Moss + 5’20”
- Federico Bianchi + 6’50”
- Michał Czerwiński + 9’40”
Mountain Classification
Points Classification
Stage 2
Kyle Blackstone 4 pts
Héctor Azul 4 pts
Khariyn Battoyrog 1 pt
Overall
Kyle Blackstone 5 pts
Héctor Azul 5 pts
Niklas Groen 3 pts
João Ultramar 3 pts
Khariyn Battoyrog 1 pt
Stage 2
Kyle Blackstone 3 pts
João Ultramar 3 pts
Héctor Azul 2 pts
Khariyn Battoyrog 1 pt
Overall
Kyle Blackstone 6 pts
Niklas Groen 5 pts
João Ultramar 3 pts
Héctor Azul 3 pts
Khariyn Battoyrog 1 pt