Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var 2023 – Stage 2 [FULL STAGE]

February 18, 2023

Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var 2023 – Stage 2 – Mandelieu-la-Napoule – Antibes : 179,4 km

The Tour des Alpes-Maritimes et du Var, which up until 2020 was known as the Tour du Haut Var, is a three-day stage race held in the hilly Var region of southeast France. The race often takes place in February, marking the start of the European stage racing season. Three hilly days in the Var mountains also serve as a perfect warm-up for those riders who are looking to find some form ahead of an action-packed spring season.

Matthias Skjelmose (Trek-Segafredo) took his second win of the season on stage 2 of the Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var, sprinting to the line ahead of Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) and Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies).

Things came back together for the finale after a number of attacks leading into the last kilometres of the 179km stage. Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) was the last man standing from the early breakaway, holding on over the main climb of the day, the Col du Pilon, and getting caught at the 7km to go mark.

Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) would launch an attack heading into the closing kilometres of the stage but both he and race leader Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-Samsic) would see their efforts foiled by the chasing pack.

Despite the moves flowing at the front, a reduced peloton came together for the final run to the line and a sprint finish. Skjelmose, who beat Powless at Mont Bouquet at the Etoile de Bessèges at the start of the month, repeated the trick here to win once again.

Vauquelin retains the yellow jersey at the midway point of the three-day race, leading from Powless by seven seconds. Sunday’s final stage brings a hilly 132.5km challenge to Vence.

Results :