By Gareth James

Geraint Thomas lost time to his main Tour de France rivals on the brutal finish to stage two at Mur-de-Bretagne.

Wales’s 2018 Tour champ slipped from 10th overall to 20th spot as the spectacular start to this year’s battle for the Yellow Jersey continued.

Thomas, who started the stage 18 seconds adrift of Julian Alaphilippe, ended the day 41 secs behind new race leader Mathieu van der Poel.

https://twitter.com/GeraintThomas86/status/1409204771983142925

The young Dutch star left the rest of the field trailing in his wake on the infamous steep slope as he twice attacked.

Thomas’s Ineos Grenadiers team had controlled the pace earlier on the short climb but were blown away by the attacks from rival teams.

Cardiff-born Thomas, who led the third group of riders across the line,  is 28 secs adrift of reigning champ Tadej Pogacar and 27 secs behind another Tour favourite in Primoz Roglic.

Overall standings:

1. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) 8:57:25
2. Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) +8″
3. Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) +13″
4. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) +14″
5. Wilco Kelderman (Bora-Hansgrohe) +24″
20. Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) +41″