Charmig wins from break after 234km marathon

A breakaway won Monday’s long, five-hour-plus second stage at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alps that reminded a peloton full of youngsters what old-school racing can be like.

Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Mobility) attacked on the final climb to shed the remnants of the day’s breakaway to win in a brute of a stage that saw rain, wind, and sun.

“It’s incredible for me to win, because I don’t get too many chances,” Charmig said. “We’ve taken a big step this year and the whole team has a great atmosphere. I came straight from four weeks at altitude, we had so much fun, and it shows in the results.”

Ten riders extracted themselves early in the 234.3km second stage and a peloton packed full of 20-somethings left it too late at the rebranded Dauphiné.

Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) and the other GC favorites rolled in safely about 3 minutes back to survive the day in the Tour de France warmup race.

Overnight leader Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyFirst) defended the leader’s jersey going into Tuesday’s decisive team time trial.

With all the decisive climbs of this race are all packed into the final weekend across the French Alps, Monday’s long march could put the pinch on the legs that might prove decisive.

Long day in saddle

At 234.3km, the stage was the longest at the Dauphiné in more than 20 years, and it was packed with 3,685m of climbing. No easy day in the saddle.

A group of 10 extracted themselves after a hard-fought battle for the day’s move in the long and lumpy profile ideal for breakaway.

EF Education-EasyPost took up the chase to have a chance to defend pink while the GC favorites cruised over the hills.

All eyes were on Seixas, but he didn’t make a move on the mid-race climbs. EF kept the gap at about six minutes before it started to chip away.

Kevin Vermaerke (UAE Emirates-XRG) climbed into third overall at 32 seconds based on finish-line positioning.

That could prove decisive going into the team time trial, where UAE will be among the favorites to challenge for the stage win.

Team time trial to reshuffle GC

The Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alps continues Tuesday with the stage 3 team time trial at 28.4km from Perreux to Perreux.

In what’s a preview to July’s Tour de France, times will be taken at each rider, rather than as a unit across the line.

That will favor the strongest riders and help protect the GC interests of riders who are on a team that’s not as deep in the speciality.

Dauphiné Stage 2 results