Stage 2 -- Tour de France 2020

Stage 2 began with only 3 riders dropped due to broken bones but there was a lot of bandages visible in the group that the commentators used the term "mummies."  The weather was perfect and the day would be a difficult one of climbing and the final descent was not only spectacular as you can see above but the roads were narrow.  All managed to come through this part of the course.
8 riders broke away at the start and 6 managed to stay away getting all of the intermediate sprint points.  Kristoff wearing the yellow jersey couldn't keep up with the peloton so the yellow jersey was up for grabs.  Peter Sagan was in the breakaway for the 23rd time at the Tour but went back to the Peloton midway.  The breakaway wasn't caught until 25 miles to the finish.
Back together it wasn't long before teams organized for the final sprint and finish.  Favorites emerged:  Julian Alaphilippe, Adam Yates was a bit of a surprise, and a newcomer, Marc Hirschi broke away with enough time between them and the peloton for one of them to win the stage and put on the yellow jersey.  In the photos above it was an interesting finish which involved tactics, power, and patience.  Julian proved once again to have the right amount of each to win the stage and put the  yellow jersey as he did in 2019. I painted him last year in the painting above and glad he was able to resume that quest again.
I learned an interesting fact about the slippery roads around Nice when it rains.  Evidently the sap from the olive trees can leak down onto the roads and make them slick as glass.  So the caution was totally called for yesterday.
I love the saying that was repeatedtoday:  "You can't win the Tour today but you can lose it."  Cautionary advice to many young and anxious riders.  Again all precautionary measures were taken by fans, staff, volunteers, and the fans to keep the Corona Virus away from the Tour.  Aman.