This stage of the Tour de France primarily traverses the Po Valley, with brief forays into the initial slopes of the Apennine Mountains. The route begins on entirely flat terrain, heading towards the historic city of Ravenna. From there, the course proceeds to Imola, renowned for its racing circuit and as the site of the 2020 UCI Road World Championships.
A significant feature of this stage is the inclusion of the Gallisterna climb, where Julian Alaphilippe secured his first world championship title. As the riders approach Bologna, they will encounter several moderate climbs, adding complexity to the route.
There are 5 major climbs of the 2nd stage of the 2024 Tour de France.
The first is the Category 3 Côte de Monticino: Category, a2 km long climb at 7.5% gradient. The second is the Côte Gallisterna, a Category 3 climbe of 1.3 km length at a truly challenging 12.8% gradient. The third is the Côte de Botteghino Di Zocca, a Category 4, climb at 1.9 km and an average 6.9% gradient. The fourth is the Côte de Montecalvo, which is a Category 3, 2.8 km long climb at 7.7% gradient. The fifth, and final, is the Côte De San Luca, which is another Category 3 climb at 1.9 km in length with a difficult 10.6% gradient to near the end of Stage 2.
The San Luca climb is particularly notable as it will be tackled twice in the final 33 km of the stage. This climb is known for its steepness and is often featured in the Giro dell'Emilia race. The stage finishes in Bologna, with the final ascent of San Luca coming 12.6 km before the finish line.
The finale in Bologna incorporates elements reminiscent of the autumn classic Giro dell'Emilia, particularly with the inclusion of the San Luca climb. This famous ascent, known for its steep gradient, will be tackled twice during the stage. However, unlike the Giro dell'Emilia, which concludes at the San Luca sanctuary, this Tour de France stage features a city-center finish.
The summit of the second and final ascent of San Luca is positioned 12.6 kilometers from the finish line, potentially setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion.
Romain Bardet won Stage 1 in Rimini. Will he win a second consecutive Stage to maintain the Maillot Jaune? That is to be seen.
The Slovenian Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) is expected to make a strong push on Stage 2, but many are in contention on the second day of an already-exciting edition of the Tour de France!
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