Shifting goals
# Groupama-FDJ United Shifts Focus After Challenging Stage in Tour Down Under
The second stage of the Tour Down Under delivered the clarity that many expected, but it also marked a disappointing turn for Groupama-FDJ United. Competing in Uraidla, the team led by Jussi Veikkanen struggled to keep pace with the dominant 20-rider group that vied for top-10 placements, ultimately falling short behind UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s winning duo of Jay Vine and Jhonatan Narvaez. With aspirations for a solid overall classification slowly diminishing, the team is now determined to seize any opportunities in the remaining stages of the event.
This stage, noted for its challenging double ascent of Corkscrew, was described by race director Stuart O’Grady as potentially the most difficult in the event’s history. Covering 148 kilometers with an elevation gain of 2,800 meters, it was a grueling test for all competitors. “We did a recon of the stage and knew that the approach to the climb was quite technical and fast,” Jussi Veikkanen remarked. He added, “We handled the first part of the day quite well. A breakaway of seven riders went quite early, then UAE Team Emirates-XRG took control.” The breakaway maintained a lead that rarely exceeded three minutes, but Groupama-FDJ United struggled to maintain their competitive edge.
As the race progressed, the peloton faced the first ascent of Corkscrew, a 3.6 km climb averaging 6.7% steepness, leading into an extended uphill section of 9 km at 5%. “The boys were in a good position for this first climb,” Veikkanen noted. However, a minor crash split the peloton just 10 kilometers before the second ascent, and despite Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet’s efforts to rejoin, the team found itself under intense pressure from UAE’s impeccable pace.
With 15 kilometers to go, Groupama-FDJ United still had key riders in contention, but they could not keep up with the escalated speeds set by Adam Yates, followed by the decisive moves from Vine and Narvaez. The winning pair distanced themselves from others and crossed the finish line comfortably ahead. A first chase group finished one minute later, while Martin-Guyonnet, Kevin Geniets, and Tom Donnenwirth rounded out the finish with a gap of 2:17.
As the reality of the situation set in, Jussi Veikkanen addressed the team’s future. “We’re going to find new objectives,” he stated. He concluded optimistically, “We’ll build new momentum and try to race like we did yesterday. We’ll be on the offensive.” With the overall classification dream fading, focus now shifts towards tactical opportunities in the remaining days of the Tour Down Under.
