Jonathan Milan of Lidl-Trek emerged victorious in stage two of the Criterium du Dauphine, showcasing his sprinting prowess in Issoire. The 204.6km ride from Premilhat saw Milan's team execute a flawless lead-out strategy, positioning him perfectly for the final 150 meters. Despite a fierce challenge from Mathieu van der Poel, Milan held his ground to clinch his first road race win in France. British rider Fred Wright narrowly edged out Van der Poel for second place.

Milan's victory also earned him the yellow jersey, taking it from reigning Tour de France and Giro d'Italia champion Tadej Pogacar, who had won the opening stage. "It was really tough," Milan admitted. "Yesterday and today, I suffered a lot. At one point, I was really on the limit, but I have to thank my teammates for bringing me back."

The stage was not without drama. Local rider Romain Bardet, competing in his last professional race, launched a bold attack on the final categorised climb, building a 20-second lead. However, lacking support in the breakaway, Bardet was soon reeled in by the peloton, setting the stage for Milan's triumphant finish.

Stage three will begin in Bardet's hometown of Brioude, adding an emotional layer to the competition. Here are the results from stage two:

• Jonathan Milan (Ita/Lidl-Trek) - 4hrs 54mins 49secs
• Fred Wright (GB/Bahrain Victorious) - Same time
• Mathieu van der Poel (Ned/Alpecin-Deceuninck)
• Stian Edvardsen-Fredheim (Nor/Uno-X Mobility)
• Emilien Jeanniere (Fra/TotalEnergies)

General classification after stage two:

• Jonathan Milan (Ita/Lidl-Trek) - 9hrs 34mins 51secs
• Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) - Same time
• Mathieu van der Poel (Ned/Alpecin-Deceuninck) - +2secs
• Fred Wright (GB/Bahrain Victorious) - +4secs
• Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) - +4secs

Stay tuned for more updates as the Criterium du Dauphine continues to deliver thrilling cycling action.