Stage 2

The road

At the start

Kristoff in yellow, the Turini ahead

Alexander Kristoff pulls on the first yellow jersey of a Tour that already hurts — the roads above Nice slick with rain yesterday, riders down all afternoon, John Degenkolb out on time before the race has properly begun. Day two answers with mountains: the Col de la Colmiane and the Col de Turini before lunch, then the Col d'Èze and a bonus sprint at the Quatre Chemins with nine kilometres left.

How it was won

1. 188 km to go

   Into the high Alps

   The Tour climbs La Colmiane and the mighty Col de Turini early, the break given room while the favourites bide their time for the hills behind Nice.

2. 234 km to go

   Martínez crashes on the Eze

   On the descent of the Col d'Eze the Dauphine winner Dani Martínez slides off and loses touch, eventually 3:38 down, while Tom Dumoulin also hits the deck but claws his way back.

3. 313 km to go

   Alaphilippe attacks

   On the Col des Quatre Chemins, 13km out, Julian Alaphilippe launches a rasping acceleration that only Marc Hirschi and Adam Yates can follow, the yellow jersey looming into view.

4. 46 km to go

   Three go for it

   Alaphilippe, Hirschi and Yates commit to the move, working together down toward Nice with the reduced peloton unable to close the gap.

5. 5At the line

   Alaphilippe wins for his father

   Alaphilippe kicks with 200m to go and holds off Hirschi to take the stage and the yellow jersey, a tearful victory dedicated to his father Jo, who died in June.

The result