Tour de France 2025 stage two predictions, tips and odds: Pogacar primed to make early statement
Free cycling tips, best bets and analysis for Stage Two of the 2025 Tour de France
Jasper Philipsen dominated the sprint to win stage one of the Tour de France on Saturday but will struggle to keep the yellow jersey on a punchy second-day route from Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Despite there only being four categorised climbs along the 209.1km stage, the longest in this year's Tour, three of those are in the final 30km and the stage concludes with a drag up to the finish.
Crosswinds could also be a factor on a chaotic day, which could result in some riders with general classification ambitions losing a significant amount of time.
Where to watch the Tour de France
You can watch every stage of the 2025 live on TNT Sports & ITV4, from midday on Saturday, July 5.
Best bet for Stage Two
Tadej Pogacar
1pt 4-1 bet365
Julian Alaphilippe
1pt each-way 80-1 bet365
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Stage Two predictions
You can't win the Tour de France in the first few days, but you can lose it early on and after Jasper Philipsen's imperious opening sprint victory in Lille, Stage 2 promises a different kind of drama.
At 209.1km, the route from Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer is the longest in this year's Tour and features only four categorised climbs.
However, with three of those coming in the final 30km, a select group of riders could emerge and break from the peloton to battle it out for superiority on the drag up to the finish.
Those who make the selection will waste little time in building a lead as they look to attack each other and after tough Saturdays for Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel, one or more of the other overall contenders could lose seconds, if not minutes.
It's an awkward day that lends itself to chaos, and Wout van Aert may have previously been the man to take advantage after riding away while wearing the yellow jersey on the road to Calais in 2022.
It's uncertain if he's in the form to do that now, though. His great rival Mathieu van der Poel is the stage favourite and could sustain an attack, but it's tough to look past defending champion Tadej Pogacar for the win.
The Slovene took the yellow jersey, albeit in different circumstances, after stage two in 2024 and reads the race so well that he is almost guaranteed to feature in the finale however the day unfolds.
He lit up the Spring Classics with his swashbuckling style and the latter part of this parcours features the type of punchy profile on which he can thrive.
A value option could be Julian Alaphilippe.
Formerly the darling of the French cycling public, the 33-year-old lacks his previous dazzle but he showed decent form at the Tour de Suisse, recording four top-ten finishes on his way to fifth place overall and he might just have one last big performance in him.
Tour de France stage two profile
Latest Tour de France betting odds
Here are bet365's latest betting odds for stage two of the Tour de France.
| Stage Two winner | Odds |
|---|---|
| Mathieu van der Poel | 7-4 with bet365 |
| Tadej Pogacar | 4-1 with bet365 |
| Thibau Nys | 8-1 with bet365 |
| Wout Van Aert | 9-1 with bet365 |
| Axel Laurance | 20-1 with bet365 |
| Biniam Girmay | 25-1 with bet365 |
| Jonathan Milan | 25-1 with bet365 |
Odds correct at time of publication and subject to change. Others on request
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Tour de France stage-by-stage guide
| Route (distance) | Type | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Lille to Lille (185km) | Flat | Winner: Jasper Philipsen |
| Stage 2 | Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer (209km) | Hilly | A punchy day for Classics specialists with a kilometre-long drag to the finish likely to determine stage honours |
| Stage 3 | Valenciennes to Dunkirk (178km) | Flat | A sprint stage all day long on paper but the threat of crosswinds should not be underestimated |
| Stage 4 | Amiens to Rouen (174km) | Hilly | An up-and-down day which should be decided inside the final 40km, which features five categorised climbs |
| Stage 5 | Caen (33km) | Time trial | Flat and fast. Expect time-trial specialists such as world champion Remco Evenepoel to boss this TT |
| Stage 6 | Bayeux to Vire Normandie (202km) | Hilly | The rugged terrain of Normandy should make for an exciting stage, which culminates in a punishing finale |
| Stage 7 | Saint-Malo to Guerledan (197km) | Hilly | A double ascent of the Mur de Bretagne, including at the finish, should bring puncheurs to the fore |
| Stage 8 | St-Meen-le-Grand to Laval (171km) | Flat | Nothing to see here. A transitional stage which will almost certainly end in a bunch sprint finish |
| Stage 9 | Chinon to Chateauroux (174km) | Flat | Chateauroux hosted three of Mark Cavendish's 35 Tour wins, and another sprinter should be victorious |
| Stage 10 | Ennezat to Mont-Dore (165km) | Mountain | An extended first week concludes with a brute of a stage on France's national holiday, Bastille Day |
| Stage 11 | Toulouse to Toulouse (156km) | Flat | After a well-earned rest day, the Tour resumes with another chance for sprinters, albeit ones who can climb |
| Stage 12 | Auch to Hautacam (180km) | Mountain | The Pyrenees await and we should get a real battle between the GC favourites on the first summit finish |
| Stage 13 | Loudenvielle to Peyragudes (11km) | Mountain TT | Time gaps will be magnified on this short but punishing mountain TT up the Col de Peyresourde |
| Stage 14 | Pau to Superbagneres (183km) | Mountain | Regular Tour stopping point Pau opens another big day in the Pyrenees which may suit the breakaway |
| Stage 15 | Muret to Carcassonne (169km) | Hilly | An intriguing parcours which could suit any number of rider styles – although climbing qualities are a must |
| Stage 16 | Montpellier to Mont Ventoux (172km) | Mountain | All roads lead to the Giant of Provence, where the GC heavyweights are set to do battle |
| Stage 17 | Bollene to Valence (160km) | Flat | Some light relief for the peloton after days of battling in the mountains. One for the fast men |
| Stage 18 | Vif to Courcheval (171km) | Mountain | Three super-category climbs and a summit finish make this one of the hardest days of the 2025 Tour |
| Stage 19 | Albertville to La Plagne (130km) | Mountain | Stage honours may go to the break but the final true mountain stage may determine this year's race winner |
| Stage 20 | Nantua to Pontarlier (184km) | Hilly | Less punishing that what has gone before but a punchy route which should make for exciting viewing |
| Stage 21 | Mantes-la-Ville to Paris Champs-Elysees (132km) | Flat | After a year away, the race ends in its spiritual home in Paris, where the sprinters will take centre stage |
Compiled by Matthew Ireland
Tour de France FAQs
When is the 2025 Tour de France?
The 112th Tour de France begins on Saturday, July 5 in Lille and concludes on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on Sunday, July 27.
Who are the favourites to win the 2025 Tour de France?
Tadej Pogacar is the odds-on favourite to win a fourth yellow jersey after winning the Tour in 2020, 2021 and last year, when he beat two-time winner Jonas Vingegaard by over six minutes.
Who is the defending Tour de France champion?
Slovenia's world champion Tadej Pogacar won a third Tour de France title in 2024 and lines up as the overwhelming favourite.
Why does the Tour de France leader wear a yellow jersey?
The leader of the Tour de France wears a yellow jersey, or the maillot jaune, to signify their status at the top of the general classification. Yellow was chosen because the race's original sponsor, L'Auto, was printed on yellow paper.
Read more ...
Tour de France 2025 predictions, tips and odds: Who will win the yellow jersey?
Tour de France 2025 polka dot jersey predictions, odds and tips: Mountains classification contenders
Tour de France 2025 green jersey predictions, odds and tips: Points classification contenders
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