Tour De France 2025: Mathieu van der Poel Wins Second Stage

Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel won the hilly second stage of the Tour de France on Sunday after holding off defending champion Tadej Pogačar and two-time winner Jonas Vingegaard in a sprint to the line. Van der Poel took the race leader’s yellow jersey from his Alpecin–Deceuninck teammate Jasper Philipsen in a second career stage victory on the Tour. Neither rider is considered an overall contender. Stage 2 was delayed by about 15 minutes after team buses arrived late to their parking spots because of heavy morning rain. Fans lined the roads wearing raincoats and riders wore light jackets amid wet and blustery conditions on the slightly hilly 209-kilometer (130-mile) trek from Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France.

Photo Webdesk

Updated on: 7 July 2025 5:12 pm

Second stage of the Tour de France cycling race 2025: Mathieu van der Poel

Tour de France cycling 2025: Second stage race | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy

Netherlands' Mathieu van der Poel wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey celebrates on the podium after winning the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 209.1 kilometers (129.9 miles) with start in Lauwin-Planque and finish in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.

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Tour de France cycling 2025: Second stage race | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy

Netherlands' Mathieu van der Poel celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 209.1 kilometers (129.9 miles) with start in Lauwin-Planque and finish in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.

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Second stage of the Tour de France cycling race 2025: Slovenias Tadej Pogacar

Tour de France cycling 2025: Second stage race | Photo: AP/Thibault Camus

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar wearing the best climber's dotted jersey celebrates on the podium after the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 209.1 kilometers (129.9 miles) with start in Lauwin-Planque and finish in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.

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Second stage of the Tour de France cycling race 2025: Belgiums Jasper Philipsen

Tour de France cycling 2025: Second stage race | Photo: AP/Thibault Camus

Belgium's Jasper Philipsen wearing the best sprinter's green jersey celebrates on the podium after the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 209.1 kilometers (129.9 miles) with start in Lauwin-Planque and finish in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.

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Tour de France cycling 2025: Second stage race | Photo: AP/Thibault Camus

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Second stage of the Tour de France cycling race 2025: Frances Kevin Vauquelin

Tour de France cycling 2025: Second stage race | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy

France's Kevin Vauquelin wearing the best young rider's white jersey celebrates on the podium after the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 209.1 kilometers (129.9 miles) with start in Lauwin-Planque and finish in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.

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Tour de France cycling 2025: Second stage race | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy

Belgium's Jasper Philipsen, center, crosses the finish line during the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 209.1 kilometers (129.9 miles) with start in Lauwin-Planque and finish in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.

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Second stage of the Tour de France cycling race 2025 photos

Tour de France cycling 2025: Second stage race | Photo: AP/Thibault Camus

Spectators cheer the riders during the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 209.1 kilometers (129.9 miles) with start in Lauwin-Planque and finish in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.

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Second stage of the Tour de France cycling race 2025:

Tour de France cycling 2025: Second stage race | Photo: AP/Thibault Camus

The pack rides during the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 209.1 kilometers (129.9 miles) with start in Lauwin-Planque and finish in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.

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Tour de France cycling 2025: Second stage race | Photo: AP/Thibault Camus

The pack rides during the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 209.1 kilometers (129.9 miles) with start in Lauwin-Planque and finish in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.

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Tour de France cycling 2025: Second stage race | Photo: AP/Thibault Camus

The pack rides during the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 209.1 kilometers (129.9 miles) with start in Lauwin-Planque and finish in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.