The Dane Anthon Charmig triumphs in another getaway in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Tour

The Danish cyclist Anthon Charmig (One-X Mobility) won the second stage of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes234 kilometers, disputed between the towns of Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux and Le Puy-en-Velay, after being among the escapees for more than 200 kilometers.

The danish He had only won once in his entire professional career.in the Tour of Oman in 2022. Second was Henri-François Renard-Haquin (Picnic PostNL) and third, Vlad van Mechelen (Bahrain), both at 41 seconds. In general, Alex Baudin (EF Education) retained the yellow jersey leader of the race thanks to the efforts of his team to ensure that the breakaway did not get too far away.

The longest stage of the race in the last 23 years, with five scoring climbs, presented a golden opportunity for a brave escape. Furthermore, the presence of the team time trial on the calendar for this Tuesday seemed to portend that the favorite teams would take the day easy.

The escape of the day was made up of Anthon Charmig (One-X), Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto), Alex Diaz (Rural Fund), Nadav Raisberg (NSN), Benjamin Thomasas (Cofidis), Henri-François Renard-Haquin (Picnic PostNL), Raúl García Pierna (Movistar), Vlad van Mechelen (Bahrain), Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies) and Clement Braz (Groupama).

The advantage of these ten cyclists was consolidated at around six minutes. The teams of the favorites (the Decathlon of Paul Seixasthe UAE Isaac del Torothe Lidl-Trek of Juan Ayuso) left the responsibility of pulling the peloton to Alex Baudin’s EF Education, who lost the virtual lead of the race in favor of Braz (5:35 behind the leader).

With 80 kilometers to go before the finish line, EF Education put on its overalls. In just 20 kilometers, the difference had been reduced to 4:30. However, the peloton did not continue working at that pace when the EF withdrew from the front, so the advantage of the escapees once again exceeded five minutes.

On a slope before the penultimate climb of the day, the movements in the breakaway began. Braz and Veistroffer gained more than 20 seconds on their teammates, and with that advantage they reached the foot of the côte des Baraques. On the climb, the break began to break up while, ahead, Braz opened a gap with respect to Veistroffer.

Braz reached the top alone, followed closely by Raúl García Pierna and Vlad van Mechelen, who overtook him on the subsequent plain. Charmig, Jegat, Benjamin Thomas and Renard-Haquin also managed to join. Later, on the côte de Saint-Vidal, a new leading trio was formed, with García Pierna, Charmig and Braz.

The Dane from One-X reached the top first and opened a gap of over 10 seconds with respect to his pursuers that only grew. Before the finish, when Charmig had already secured the stage win, Van Mechelen and Renard-Haquin caught up with García Pierna and Braz, and ended up beating them in the final sprint for the podium.

This Tuesdaythe platoon will face the last general rehearsal for the team time trial with which he will open the Tour de France in July. The teams will travel 28.4 kilometers, starting and finishing in Perreux, through undulating roads, although without scoring elevations, and with an explosive final 400 meters in which the average slope will be around 7%.