Jay McCarthy

Australian Jay McCarthy of Bora-Hansgrohe is the first rider to hold the general classification Point d’Appui on the 2017 Tour de France.

Fellow Australian Luke Durbridge of Orica-Scott abandoned the race early during Stage 2 due to an ankle injury. Durbridge was one of the many riders who took falls during Stage 1, but he struggled home, finishing in next-to-last position. He had courage enough to start today’s Stage 2 but couldn’t continue. His loss left 195 riders to come home on Stage 2.

McCarthy finished on the podium of this year’s Tour Down Under, coming in third. He took fourth place last year and captured the Best Young Rider award. He has ridden the Giro twice and the Vuelta once. This is his first start in the Tour de France.

Stage 2 saw more rain. The peloton kept a leash on the break so that as the race neared Liege the pace picked up and a couple dozen riders, including Chris Froome, went down like dominoes in a sharp turn when a Katusha rider slipped on the inside of the turn and became a bowling ball. All the fallen riders resumed the race and finished.

Marcel Kittel of the Quick-Step Floors team won the stage’s sprint finish. Mikel Landa of Team Sky was awarded the stage Point d’Appui.

Geraint Thomas of Team Sky remains the GC Tour leader. Thomas Leezer of Team LottoNl-Jumbo dropped into the overall last spot to hold the Lanterne Rouge.