Stage 2 of the Tour of Istanbul is a 149.9 km hilly circuit stage starting and finishing in Şile on the Black Sea coast. The profile rewards riders who can cope with repeated punchy climbs before a flat run-in to the line, favouring a well-rounded hills specialist with enough sprint to contest a reduced bunch finish. With no stage results yet from this edition, form on similar-profile races and raw hilly-terrain ability are the primary selection criteria.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Mathis Le Berre is the standout pick on paper, combining elite hills ability with solid climbing and strong team support from TotalEnergies. His profile is the best fit for a punchy circuit stage that ends on a flat finish where he can also contest the sprint from a reduced group.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Mathis Le Berre is among the top hills specialists in this field and represents TotalEnergies' strongest card for a hilly stage finishing in Şile. Though his recent similar-profile result was modest, his overall profile fits this stage better than almost anyone else in the peloton.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Fabien Doubey and Márton Dina both bring balanced hills and climbing profiles that suit repeated short climbs. Doubey benefits from TotalEnergies' tactical depth, while Dina's motivation racing near home for MBH Bank CSB — the best-represented squad in the field — makes him a genuine threat.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Fabien Doubey combines strong hills ability with solid climbing, making him a well-rounded threat on a punchy circuit stage. TotalEnergies' depth gives him good tactical support to contest a late move.
MBH Bank CSB
MBH Bank CSB
Márton Dina is one of MBH Bank CSB's most complete hilly-terrain riders, pairing capable hills attributes with competitive climbing. Racing on home turf for his Hungarian squad adds motivation on a course that rewards sustained efforts.
★★
Dark Horses
Milan Menten, Emilien Jeannière, and Nicolò Buratti are all among the top hills performers in this startlist. Jeannière's extra sprint adds a second dimension if a group of five or six arrives together, while Menten and Buratti are consistent finishers on terrain like this.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Emilien Jeannière is one of the higher-rarity riders in this field and brings the best sprint of any top-hills performer in the bunch, making him dangerous if a small group reaches the flat finish together. His versatility across hilly terrain makes him a genuine wildcard.
Lotto Intermarché
Lotto Intermarché
Milan Menten sits among the top hills performers in this startlist and also carries a useful sprint for a flat finish, giving him two routes to a result. Lotto Intermarché's presence in the race means he should not be isolated late on.
MBH Bank CSB
MBH Bank CSB
Nicolò Buratti matches the field-leading hills mark and offers a solid all-round profile that suits a punchy stage. MBH Bank CSB's large squad presence gives him the numbers to control or animate the race.
★
Ones to Watch
Budzinski, Serrano, Thierry, and Chesini are outsiders with legitimate claims to a top-ten or better. Thierry's outstanding climbing figure could see him dictate the race on the harder pitches, while the others are capable of featuring in or surviving a move before the flat finale.
MBH Bank CSB
MBH Bank CSB
Cesare Chesini rounds out the MBH Bank CSB contingent with solid hills credentials and a competitive climbing attribute, making him a credible breakaway option if the squad decides to play multiple cards on the stage.
Polti
Polti
Javier Serrano is a capable hilly-terrain rider for Polti who can contribute to a break and potentially hang on through the flat finale. Worth monitoring if Polti send him up the road early.
MBH Bank CSB
MBH Bank CSB
Marcin Budzinski is a dependable hills rider whose climbing ability gives him the legs to stay with moves on the more demanding sections of this circuit. An outside chance if the race fragments early.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Pierre Thierry has the strongest climbing figure of any rider in this preview, and while his recent similar-profile outing did not yield a result, he could animate the harder sections and benefit from TotalEnergies' numerical advantage.
Verdict
Mathis Le Berre heads into Stage 2 as the top favourite, backed by a strong TotalEnergies squad and one of the best hills profiles in the peloton. Fabien Doubey, Márton Dina, and the versatile Emilien Jeannière are the key challengers if the race is decided by a select group on the final climbs.