The second stage of the 2024 Tour de l’Ardèche unfolded over 81.6 kilometres from Tournon-sur-Rhône to Mauves, packed with nearly 1,200 metres of climbing and treacherous weather that made the race anything but straightforward. Rain turned the roads slick, causing multiple crashes and thinning out the peloton as riders struggled through technical descents and winding roads.
After a few early attacks, including one notable move by Ireland’s Fiona Mangan, the peloton remained mostly intact, though stretched and strung out as the rain continued to fall. Mangan’s solo attempt was quickly reeled back in by the main contenders, with the favourites keeping a close eye on each other throughout the stage.
As the race approached the finish, the peloton had splintered into a reduced group of around 14 riders. In the slippery conditions, some riders attempted to make moves, but the technical nature of the course, combined with the weather, made it a game of survival. A few riders took risks in the descents, but it was Dutch rider Thalita de Jong, already in the pink leader’s jersey, who remained calm and in control.
The final kilometres saw the select group hurtling towards a sprint in Mauves, and it was de Jong who had the speed and composure to take her second win in as many days. She edged out Canada’s Sarah van Dam, who had launched her sprint from the last corner, and fellow Dutchwoman Eline Jansen, rounding out the podium in third.
Behind them, a series of crashes in the final 3 kilometres caught out several riders, with commissaires later awarding them the same time as the group they were riding with at the moment of the incidents.
Rider Reactions
Thalita de Jong was understandably thrilled with her second consecutive stage win, highlighting both the danger and the satisfaction of the day. “Two out of two is just fantastic. It was a rainy day, but quite calm actually, with some attacks in the beginning which I countered immediately,” she said. “The rain made it very dangerous, especially in the technical descents. Some riders also took risks. I just chose my own lines and arrived safely down with the first riders.”
De Jong continues to hold the lead in the general classification, but remains cautious about the upcoming stages. “I remain in the lead, but it’s not over yet. Tomorrow’s stage is longer, but less hard. Maybe a group will get away, but it should be an easier day.”
Second-place finisher Sarah van Dam gave credit to de Jong but was satisfied with her own performance, especially given the tough conditions. “It was wild! You really had to be careful in the final, but I managed to stay on the bike. I was well positioned for the sprint, but Thalita was just stronger today. No regrets,” said van Dam, who had taken the final corner in the lead but couldn’t hold off de Jong’s finishing kick.
Eline Jansen, who finished third, was also pleased with her effort, though she had hoped to avoid the sprint. “The last descent was something! Many riders crashed. I tried to make my move in the final climb, but I couldn’t break away. In the sprint, I’m happy with third, given how chaotic it was,” she explained, acknowledging the difficulty of the stage.
2024 Tour de l’Ardeche Stage 2 result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: TCFIA
