Stage 2: Historic Gold for Canada, Poland’s Malwina Mul in a 40-Kilometer Solo Breakaway

In the final sprint, she outsprinted Poland’s Malwina Mul from the MAT Atom Deweloper team, who had spent 40 kilometers in a solo breakaway. The best-placed Czech rider was Kristýna Zemanová, who finished seventh. The overall race leader’s yellow jersey remained with Belgian rider Van Sinaey.

Like Thursday’s opening team time trial, the race was affected by unpredictable weather. Sunshine alternated with overcast skies, strong winds, and frequent downpours. Nearly 40 of the 162 riders who started the race did not finish due to the tough conditions.

Thomas triumphed in the final sprint, giving Canada its first-ever stage win, following a silver medal by Amy Moore in 2006 and bronze by Alison Testroete in 2010.

“It was a tough stage, but I’m thrilled,” said Thomas, who turns 20 next week. “There were long climbs, which I don’t like as much as the shorter ones, but I’m happy,” added the Calgary native.

But it wasn’t just Thomas who caught attention.

Polish rider Malwina Mul also shone. The winner of this very stage in 2023 launched a solo attack halfway through the race, building up a lead of nearly two minutes. “I didn’t expect it at all, but in the end, the weather worked against me. Still, we have a strong team, and I’ll be aiming to win tomorrow’s stage,” said Mul at the finish. Third place went to Italy’s Chiara Reghini.

Czech riders were active as well. Current national champion Barbora Němcová from Dukla kept the jersey for the best Czech rider in the general classification and made her mark on the mountain sprints, winning one and scoring points in others.

Along with Zemanová from Team VIF, she stayed in the leading group of twenty in the final third of the race, where they battled not only with the yellow jersey but also with two other Belgian riders, Vierstraete and Moerman.

The yellow jersey remained with Belgian Xaydee Van Sinaey on her 20th birthday, as she finished sixth.

Saturday’s stage, starting at 3 p.m. in the town square of Rumburk and finishing at the same spot, will follow the circuit of the autumn Tour de Zeleňák race, running through towns and villages of the Šluknov Hook. It measures 110.7 kilometers.