Maciej Bodnar impresses to almost snatch Provence stage win: "I was not thinking about an attack"
Cycling
Wind marked the second stage of the Tour de la Provence as many teams struggled with the conditions out on the road. TotalEnergies though thrived, and almost got an unexpected reward out of it.
The French team's ambitions for the day were to keep Pierre Latour's GC ambitions intact, after a great performance in the prologue which saw him finish fifth: "We knew it would be a lot of wind, some echelons so the goal of the team was to protect Pierre [Latour] and I think we did a good job. Before the guys were working, than me and Pierre [made the decisive split]. We are still in GC with Pierre with have a good position."
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After trying to spark a move with 106 kilometers to go, the duo then managed to be in the main echelons that formed with 82 kilometers to go. The Polish time-trialist is no stranger to attacking on windy stages - his attack with Peter Sagan, Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas in the 2016 Tour de France being a prime example - however it was unexpected to see Bodnar on the attack and so close to an impressive win, in what could be only his second career in a non time-trial stage during his pro career.
"Pierre told me if you want you can go, I was not thinking about an attack but I saw a hole behind me and I was trying to go. Maybe it was too early but it's like this. Later I saw Filippo was coming and I was hoping I could catch his wheel, but in the end the bunch was already behind. A day like this, always in the wind, I tried to do something and am happy about it," he added.
Bodnar was an addition to the French team after Peter Sagan was signed, the Slovakian brought in several members of his block over from BORA - hansgrohe and after Daniel Oss impressed at the Saudi Tour, Bodnar is also giving very good signs ahead of the classics campaign: "I feel really great in this team, it's great atmosphere, I feel like even at 36 years old I stillf eel good, and have some new motivation in the team."

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A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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- i dont think he is ready ot win against the top 2 or the 2nd rung of evenepoel, del toro , Almeida. In the third week in the TDF he was very very defensive, no attacks. i think he was exhausted. right now he needs time not the brutal Giro or the intense TDF.abstractengineer04-11-2026
- Rota is an excellent rider to get in a break with because he always does his turnchapmanesque04-11-2026
- That 3000 extra that the Tour de France is built up in the flat stages
Rafionain-Glas04-11-2026 - maybe this is something else they can protest in the streets of France.mij04-11-2026
- his Roubaix win was amazing. not to take anything away from him - arguably one of MVDP's wins was at the expense of a WVA flat - but so many things need to line up to get one of these. He had a perfect race with fewer bike issues on an attritional course. And crazy strong as usual. Glad he got this done.mij04-11-2026
- Orts was a super smart signing with the new rules regarding cross and UCI pointsmij04-11-2026
- yeah... you're right...PogiSloFans04-11-2026
- Podcast sounds great. Two so called experts stating the f*cking obvious.wrsty04-11-2026
- A mindset that reminds me of Tim Declerq. I loved watching that guy just pound away the kilometers, hours at the front, holding an entire breakaway in check on his own. Bjerg seems like a similar guy. Curling, the team sport.RidesHills04-11-2026
- He will be lol, but he can still win on the climbs hahaawp04-11-2026
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Quel effort de Bodnar 🚀 Les Ineos ont dû s’employer pour reprendre notre coureur dans le final. #TDLP2022
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