Tadej Pogachar (UAE Team Emirates) and Jonas Vingegaard (Vimalies a Bike) showed their Tour de France spirit with a combined attack on the climb to Saint-Luca, and Remco Evenpole (Soudal-Quickstep) responded with a brilliant Remco Evenpole (Soudal-Quickstep) responded with a great chase.

The Belgian avoided the time loss of his two main rivals and moved into the best young rider jersey in white, 21 seconds ahead of many of his rivals.

In the overall Tour de France standings, Evenpoel is tied with Pogachar for second place in time. Pogachar wore the yellow jersey and Evenpoel the white jersey, and Pogachar admitted that he left a gap at the finish to avoid wearing the yellow jersey earlier in the race.

Pogachar probably wanted to give Evenpoel the poison cup, but the young Belgian was happy to be close rather than carrying the weight of the race.

"Pogachar didn't seem happy with the yellow jersey. It was never intended, especially for him, to get the yellow in the first few days," explained Evenpoel after the stage.

If Evenpoel finishes two places ahead of Pogachar in the third stage to Turin, he will take the yellow jersey. The battle for the intermediate time bonus could also see a change in leadership, as Vingegaard and Calapaz are equal in time, 6 seconds ahead of first stage winner Romain Bardet and 21 seconds ahead of the other GC riders, including Primoš Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).

"Then I'll be at the back," Evenpoel joked, perhaps hoping to avoid leading the race early in the Tour de France, as Pogachar did.

"We'll see what happens. If it's yellow, it's all the better. If it's not a yellow, then so be it."

Evenpoel, all new to the Tour de France, was happy to talk about his race as he showed off his white jersey.

"I feel happy. It's a good experience here. I think today's race was all about positioning and fighting for position. Everyone did a very good job and we were always able to stay out of trouble and crashes."

"When Pogachar attacked, I was right behind him. But I had to jump out of the second group right before he attacked, so my legs were full. But in the end it worked out and I was able to finish with Pogachar and Vingegaard. The others finished 21 seconds behind. The other racers finished 21 seconds behind.

Evenpole closed the gap to Pogachar and Vingegaard in Calapaz, but emphasized that he did most of the work, including the time trial in the city center of Bologna and the downhill dive.

"I always saw them working hard, but I don't think I was ever more than 10 seconds behind.

"I had to do most of the work alone. I think Richard only had to do it once. So I'm the reason we were able to come back."

Evenpoel will wear the white jersey for the third stage from Piacenza to Turin on Monday. The next big test will be Tuesday's mountain stage to Valloire, with the Col du Galibier climb and a fast descent to the finish.

"My legs are good but not super. I'm trying to find my best condition and grow to 100-105%," said Evenpoel, who told French television that he has lost 2.5 kg since the Criterium du Dauphiné.

"I am happy with my effort today. It was not my best day on the bike. But I didn't lose time to the two favorites for the win. That's the positive thing about today. Now the race is on."