Another solo finish at the Tour Auvergne Rhone Alpes, Anthon Charming claimed victory in the second stage after a day spent entirely on the attack. The decisive moment came on the final climb of the day, roughly ten kilometers from the finish line, where the Norwegian from Team Uno X Mobility forced the pace and dropped his breakaway companions. Second place went to Henri Francois Renard, with Vlad Van Mechelen completing the podium in third.

No changes in the general classification where Alex Baudin maintains his yellow jersey.

THE RACE. A lively and extremely long stage, 234.3 km from Saint Martin le Vinoux to Le Puy en Velay for the second day of racing at the Tour Auvergne Rhone Alpes. 5 climbs and a total of 3,685 meters of elevation gain. During the early climbs of the day, a group of ten riders formed and achieved a maximum advantage of 6 minutes: Anthon Charming (Team Uno X Mobility), Raul Garcia Pierna (Team Movistar), Vlad Van Mechelen (Bahrain Victorious), Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto Intermarche), Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies), Alex Dias (Caja Rural Seguros RGA), Nadav Raisberg (NSN Cycling Team), Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis), Clement Braz Afonso (Groupama FDJ United) and Henri Francois Renard Haquin (Team Picnic PostNL). Team EF Education, the squad of general classification leader Alex Baudin, consistently worked to keep the situation under control and prevent the breakaway riders from gaining too much ground and becoming a threat to the overall standings.

The race heated up 46 kilometers from the finish when, taking advantage of a climbing section, Baptiste Veistroffer attempted to attack with Clement Braz Afonso, the best-positioned breakaway rider in the general classification. The Groupama FDJ United Frenchman forced the pace on the Cote des Baragues, remaining alone for several kilometers. Taking advantage of the subsequent rolling terrain, Charming, Garcia Pierna, Van Mechelen, Jegat, Thomas and Renard, all part of the early breakaway, managed to rejoin him.

On the Cote de Saint Vid, the final climb of the day, Anthon Charming literally blew apart the breakaway group by attempting to go solo. The Norwegian from Team Uno X managed the final 12 kilometers of racing well and crossed the finish line alone, celebrating his second professional victory.

On the final climb, Team Netcompany Ineos attempted to raise the pace in the main group, which however remained compact. Tomorrow Alex Baudin will start in yellow to tackle the third stage of the Tour Auvergne Rhone Alpes. The 28.4 km team time trial starting and finishing in Peerreux could be the first decisive day for the general classification.

STAGE RESULTS

1 Charming Anthon Uno-X Mobility 05:40:29

2 Haquin Henri-Francois Team Picnic PostNL + 41

3 Van Mechelen Vlad Bahrain Victorious + 41

4 García Raúl Movistar Team + 43

5 Braz Afonso Clément Groupama-FDJ United + 44

6 Thomas Benjamin Cofidis + 01:56

7 Jegat Jordan Team TotalEnergies + 01:59

8 Raisberg Nadav NSN Cycling Team + 02:10

9 Fisher-Black Finn Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 03:13

10 Van Gils Maxim Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 03:13

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1 Baudin Alex EF Education-EasyPost 09:27:40

2 Debruyne Ramses Alpecin-Premier Tech + 32

3 Vermaerke Kevin UAE Team Emirates-XRG + 32

4 Bisiaux Léo Decathlon CMA CGM Team + 32

5 Tulett Ben Team Visma | Lease a Bike + 32

6 Tuckwell Luke Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 32

7 Vauquelin Kévin Netcompany INEOS Cycling Team + 32

8 Onley Oscar Netcompany INEOS Cycling Team + 32

9 Molard Rudy Groupama-FDJ United + 32

10 Plapp Luke Team Jayco-AlUla + 32