TOUR DE FRANCE 2021 STAGE 1 RESULTS ALAPHILIPPE STRIKES EARLY

Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe dusted himself off from a fall to claim the first yellow jersey of the Tour de France on Saturday, winning stage one by a clear margin on a crash-marred opening day. World champion Alaphilippe shot up the early section of the final 2 mile climb taking ten bonus seconds at the finish line and ended another 8 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger. When the time bonuses were calculated Australia’s Michael Matthews earned  second overall at 12 seconds while Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic in third is 14 seconds down on the leader.

Crossing the line in his world champion’s rainbow jersey Alaphilippe put his thumb in his mouth in honor of his newborn son with his partner Marion Rousse, a former professional cyclist and now commentator.

Ineos Grenadiers leader Geraint Thomas and defending champion Tadej Pogacar were just behind this group on a hugely stressful finish with major time gaps at stake that almost certainly led to the second of two mass falls on the day.

The first was caused by a fan brandishing a cardboard banner trying to get on television, the second by a technical error at high speed as riders jostled for position at the foot of the final slope.

Alaphilippe is no stranger to the yellow jersey having spent much of the 2019 Tour in the lead before finishing fifth overall.

MORE TOUR DE FRANCE NEWS

Julian Alaphilippe (FRA – Deceuninck – Quick-Step)

TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE ONE RESULTS

1 ALAPHILIPPE Julian Deceuninck – Quick Step 4:39:05
2 MATTHEWS Michael Team BikeExchange 0:08
3 ROGLIČ Primož Team Jumbo-Visma 0:08
4 HAIG Jack Bahrain – Victorious 0:08
5 KELDERMAN Wilco BORA – hansgrohe 0:08
6 POGAČAR Tadej UAE-Team Emirates 0:08
7 GAUDU David Groupama – FDJ 0:08
8 HIGUITA Sergio EF Education – Nippo 0:08
9 MOLLEMA Bauke Trek – Segafredo 0:08
10 THOMAS Geraint INEOS Grenadiers 0:08

 

OVERALL STANDINGS

1 ALAPHILIPPE Julian Deceuninck – Quick Step 4:38:55
2 MATTHEWS Michael Team BikeExchange 0:12
3 ROGLIČ Primož Team Jumbo-Visma 0:14
4 HAIG Jack Bahrain – Victorious 0:18
5 KELDERMAN Wilco BORA – hansgrohe 0:18
6 POGAČAR Tadej UAE-Team Emirates 0:18
7 GAUDU David Groupama – FDJ 0:18
8 HIGUITA Sergio EF Education – Nippo 0:18
9 MOLLEMA Bauke Trek – Segafredo 0:18
10 THOMAS Geraint INEOS Grenadiers 0:18

 

RBA/AFP Photos: Bettini

Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.

Comments are closed.

edit