Tour de France
The 111th edition of the Tour de France began on Saturday with a surprise winner in Italy. After a successful escape with his teammate Frank van den Broek after 206 kilometers from Florence to Rimini, Romain Bardet not only won the day, but also slipped into the yellow jersey of the overall leader for the first time. The Austrians around Felix Gall rolled to the finish with the field, like all the favorites.
29.06.2024 18.42
Online since today, 6.42 p.m.
In temperatures above 30 degrees, the 33-year-old Frenchman Bardet and his ten-year-younger stablemate from the dsm-firmenich PostNL team saved five seconds on the main field with the title candidates around the two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard from Denmark and the Slovenian Giro winner Tadej Pogacar. Just before the finish line, van den Broek, who was named the most combative rider of the opening stage, handed over the lead to his experienced teammate for his fourth daily victory in a Tour.
Bardet, who won a stage in 2015, 2016 and 2017, also thanked his escape companion with a clear gesture. For the first time in his career, the 33-year-old, who was second overall eight years ago and third a year later, is now wearing the leader’s yellow jersey on the second stage. The dsm team was also able to celebrate the first double victory by a racing team at the start since 1995.
As the best Austrian, Gall came in 41st, at the same time as Vingegaard, Pogacar and Co. Marco Haller and Gregor Mühlberger were almost half an hour behind the winner. The Austrians finished 29:14 minutes behind the winner in 143rd and 145th place respectively. On Sunday, the race will be held in Italy again, covering almost exactly 200 km from Cesenatico on the Adriatic coast back inland to Bologna.
Heat causes problems
The demanding profile of the opening race and the high temperatures posed major problems for many riders. Veteran sprinter Mark Cavendish had to fight particularly hard due to his weakened health. The Brit fought his way to the finish line, however, with a large gap. Czech rider Jan Hirt (Soudal) had to set off already injured. The former Ö-Tour winner damaged two of his front teeth in a collision with a spectator before the start.
Tour de France, first stage
Florenz – Rimini (206 km): 1. Romain Bardet FRA 05:07:20 2. Frank van den Broek NED gl. Time 3. Wout van Aert BEL + 0:05 4. Tadej Pogacar SLO -“- 5. Maxim van Gils BEL -“- 6. Alex Aranburu ESP -“- 7. Mads Pedersen DEN -“- 8. Renco Evenepoel BEL – “- 9. Pello Bilbao ESP -“- 10. Alberto Bettiol ITA -“- weiters: 16. Jonas Vingegaard DEN -“- 33. Primoz Roglic SLO -“- 41.
Felix Gall
AUT
-“-
143.
Marco Haller
AUT
29:14
145.
Gregor Mühlberger
AUT -“- Graphics: APA/ORF
Stage plan:
29.06. 1. Etappe Florenz – Rimini (ITA, 206 km) 30.06. 2. Etappe Cesenatico – Bologna (ITA, 200 km) 01.07. 3. Etappe Plaisance – Turin (ITA, 229 km) 02.07. 4. Etappe Pinerolo (ITA) – Valloire (138 km) 03.07. 5. Etappe Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne – Saint-Vulbas (177 km) 04.07. 6. Etappe Macon – Dijon (163 km) 05.07. 7. Etappe Nuits-Saint-Georges – Gevrey-Chambertin (25 km/EZF) 06.07. 8. Etappe Semur-en-Auxois – Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises (176 km) 07.07. 9. Etappe Troyes – Troyes (199 km) 08.07. Ruhetag 09.07. 10. Etappe Orleans – Saint-Amand-Montrond (187 km) 10.07. 11. Etappe Evraux-les-Bains – Le Lioran (211 km) 11.07. 12. Etappe Aurillac – Villeneuve-sur-Lot (204 km) 12.07. 13. Etappe Agen – Pau (171 km) 13.07. 14. Etappe Pau – Saint-Lary-Soulan (152 km/BAK) 14.07. 15. Etappe Loudenvielle – Plateau de Beille (198 km/BAK) 15.07. Ruhetag 16.07. 16. Etappe Gruissan – Nimes (187 km) 17.07. 17. Etappe Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux – Superdevoluy (178 km) 18.07. 18. Etappe Gap – Barcelonette (179 km) 19.07. 19. Etappe Embrun – Isola 2000 (145 km/BAK) 20.07. 20. Etappe Nizza – Col de la Couillole (133 km/BAK) 21.07. 21. Etappe Monaco – Nizza (34 km/EZF)
BAK = Bergankunft
EZF = Individual Time Trial
Total length: 3,492 km
