Tour de France: Stage 1 to Cav

A week after sprinting second in Stockton at the British RR Championships, Mark Cavendish won his 27th stage  in the Tour de France and took his first ever Yellow jersey.

Tour de France: Stage 1 to Cav

The opening stage of the 103rd Tour de France came down to a bunch sprint in Utah Beach and Mark Cavendish gave Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka an incredible stage victory and also secured his first ever yellow jersey of the Tour de France.

The 188km stage to Utah Beach suited the sprinters perfectly and so the five rider breakaway that had escaped early on, had zero chance of making it to the finish first.

Etixx-Quickstep and Lotto-Soudal did the lion’s share of the pace making from the peloton while Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka rode near the front, out of trouble, during a nervy stage which saw a number of crashes including one for Alberto Contador and splits in the peloton caused by crosswinds.

With 5km to go, the race was all together and Cav’s train put their plan into action. Moving up the left side of the peloton, Bernhard Eisel led Reinardt Janse van Rensburg, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Mark Renshaw and Mark Cavendish to the head of the bunch shoulder to shoulder with the  Etixx Quickstep squad who had the stage favourite, Marcel Kittel, at the rear of their train.

After two powerful turns by Janse van Rensburg and Boasson Hagen respectively, Dimension Data edged ahead as Renshaw led under the 1 kilometer to go sign. Cavendish waited on the wheel of the World Champion, Peter Sagan (Tinkoff), who had to start sprinting early, before the Manxman burst out of the Slovakian’s slipstream with 200m to go, to take a historical victory ahead of Kittel and Sagan.

“This is a very special win” said Cavendish after.” It is the first time I have had the honour of wearing the yellow jersey and what a special moment to do it, with such special people. Three of my last guys, Edvald, Mark and Bernie were guys that have been with me my whole career and to have Reinardt Janse van Rensburg pulling full on for me in the final, it was super emotional for me.”

“I did it for my team, for the ‘kids on bicycle’ campaign to allow 5000 children to get a bike. We ride for a cause. Regardless of who was there, the Tour de France is the Tour de France. To win a stage is incredible. I’m very emotional for it. It’s gonna be a special day tomorrow to ride a stage in yellow”.

“It’s the most iconic symbol in cycling. There was no better place to achieve this than Utah Beach where soldiers died for our freedom in the western world. When I was young I wanted to be involved with the Armed Forces in the UK. I’ve enjoyed the ceremony we’ve had after the stage to pay a tribute to those who died at war”.

“It’s my way to also thank my friends from the Armed Forces. Every Tour de France stage victory is a life changing moment. My 27 wins are all different. They’re all in my memory: the towns, the teams I rode for, the circumstances. Today I thought it would be a full on tailwind and a fast finish but it kind of changed in the last couple of kilometers. So I was waiting. I wanted to get the room and I was fortunate that Sagan opened a gap on the right. I could go at the maximum speed. I carried on to the line and nobody passed me.”

VIDEO – LAST KILOMETRE

Crash for Contador

With 77km to race however, Tinkoff’s leader, Alberto Contador suffered a crash. While the Spanish rider was able to rejoin the race showing little more than a torn jersey as a result of the fall, the team was ensuring Alberto was checked to be certain there were no injuries, as Sport Director, Sean Yates, explained.

“Alberto’s crash was the only real stress point today, but got back OK quickly with the help of the team and we will now see how he recovers. He’s cut up on the upper shoulder and upper back, which will be uncomfortable, but he’s being checked out for any damage. It’s not a great way to start but other than that it wasn’t a bad day. Hopefully no long lasting after effects – the body takes time to recover from a crash and this is energy that you need in the race.”

Alberto gave some insight into the crash and how it happened. “The race was very tense and everybody was fighting to position themselves in the front because of the wind. We were well positioned and very attentive but at a turn, a number of riders hit the central reservation. My front wheel slid off and I also think that was the case with some others. We fell, hit the ground and skidded. In addition, another rider fell on me and hit my shoulder.”

Second for Kittel

“It was a big fight in the last five kilometers” said Kittel afterwards. Everyone wanted to be there, even the GC guys fought hard to get at the front. My boys where very strong, did a great lead-out and kept me well-positioned. Because of the crazy finale, I had to start the sprint from left side and go really early; that made the difference today, because Mark started his sprint later.

When you are in the wind and someone is coming from behind, there’s no chance to keep up. Of course I am disappointed, because it was my goal to win, but I must congratulate Mark; he’s one of the fastest guys in the world and it’s no shame to lose to him. On the up side, the team worked well, I’m satisfied with how my legs felt and we are sure more chances will come in the next days”,

… continued after advert

RESULT

1 CAVENDISH Mark TEAM DIMENSION DATA 04h 13′ 55”
2 KITTEL Marcel ETIXX-QUICK STEP + 00′ 04”
3 SAGAN Peter TINKOFF + 00′ 06”
4 GREIPEL André LOTTO SOUDAL + 00′ 10”
5 THEUNS Edward TREK – SEGAFREDO + 00′ 10”
6 LAPORTE Christophe COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS + 00′ 10”
7 COQUARD Bryan DIRECT ENERGIE + 00′ 10”
8 KRISTOFF Alexander TEAM KATUSHA + 00′ 10”
9 MC LAY DANIEL FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT + 00′ 10”
10 HENDERSON Gregory LOTTO SOUDAL + 00′ 10”
11 ENGER Sondre Holst IAM CYCLING + 00′ 10”
12 STUYVEN Jasper TREK – SEGAFREDO + 00′ 10”
13 BARGUIL WARREN TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN + 00′ 10”
14 ALAPHILIPPE Julian ETIXX-QUICK STEP + 00′ 10”
15 DEGENKOLB John TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN + 00′ 10”
16 RENSHAW Mark TEAM DIMENSION DATA + 00′ 10”
17 DEBUSSCHERE Jens LOTTO SOUDAL + 00′ 10”
18 RAST Gregory TREK – SEGAFREDO + 00′ 10”
19 TIMMER Albert TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN + 00′ 10”
20 RICHEZE Ariel Maximiliano ETIXX-QUICK STEP + 00′ 10”
21 SINKELDAM Ramon TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN + 00′ 10”
22 BRESCHEL Matti CANNONDALE DRAPAC TEAM + 00′ 10”
23 GROENEWEGEN Dylan TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO + 00′ 10”
24 KREUZIGER Roman TINKOFF + 00′ 10”
25 FROOME Christopher TEAM SKY + 00′ 10”
26 ERVITI Imanol MOVISTAR TEAM + 00′ 10”
27 SANCHEZ GIL Luis-Leon ASTANA PRO TEAM + 00′ 10”
28 GATTO Oscar TINKOFF + 00′ 10”
29 OLIVEIRA Nelson MOVISTAR TEAM + 00′ 10”
30 QUINTANA Nairo MOVISTAR TEAM + 00′ 10”
31 WAGNER Robert TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO + 00′ 10”
32 VAN AVERMAET Greg BMC RACING TEAM + 00′ 10”
33 VALVERDE Alejandro MOVISTAR TEAM + 00′ 10”
34 IRIZAR Markel TREK – SEGAFREDO + 00′ 10”
35 CHAVANEL Sylvain DIRECT ENERGIE + 00′ 10”
36 LEMOINE Cyril COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS + 00′ 10”
37 MARTENS Paul TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO + 00′ 10”
38 BURGHARDT Marcus BMC RACING TEAM + 00′ 10”
39 CURVERS Roy TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN + 00′ 10”
40 PORTE Richie BMC RACING TEAM + 00′ 10”
41 GRIVKO Andriy ASTANA PRO TEAM + 00′ 10”
42 VALGREN ANDERSEN Michael TINKOFF + 00′ 10”
43 NIBALI Vincenzo ASTANA PRO TEAM + 00′ 10”
44 ARU Fabio ASTANA PRO TEAM + 00′ 10”
45 FONSECA Armindo FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT + 00′ 10”
46 GERRANS Simon ORICA-BIKEEXCHANGE + 00′ 10”
47 NAESEN Oliver IAM CYCLING + 00′ 10”
48 IMPEY Daryl ORICA-BIKEEXCHANGE + 00′ 10”
49 DUMOULIN Tom TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN + 00′ 10”
50 HERRADA Jesús MOVISTAR TEAM + 00′ 10”
51 CRADDOCK Lawson CANNONDALE DRAPAC TEAM + 00′ 10”
52 HOLLENSTEIN Reto IAM CYCLING + 00′ 10”
53 DUMOULIN Samuel AG2R LA MONDIALE + 00′ 10”
54 MARTIN Daniel ETIXX-QUICK STEP + 00′ 10”
55 ROLLAND Pierre CANNONDALE DRAPAC TEAM + 00′ 10”
56 BARDET Romain AG2R LA MONDIALE + 00′ 10”
57 VACHON Florian FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT + 00′ 10”
58 SABATINI Fabio ETIXX-QUICK STEP + 00′ 10”
59 VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen TEAM KATUSHA + 00′ 10”
60 SOUPE GEOFFREY COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS + 00′ 10”
61 IMOLAI Davide LAMPRE – MERIDA + 00′ 10”
62 MATE MARDONES Luis Angel COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS + 00′ 10”
63 GALLOPIN Tony LOTTO SOUDAL + 00′ 10”
64 PAUWELS Serge TEAM DIMENSION DATA + 00′ 10”
65 NAVARDAUSKAS Ramunas CANNONDALE DRAPAC TEAM + 00′ 10”
66 SCHÄR Michael BMC RACING TEAM + 00′ 10”
67 ELMIGER Martin IAM CYCLING + 00′ 10”
68 VAN GARDEREN Tejay BMC RACING TEAM + 00′ 10”
69 LINDEMAN Bert Jan TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO + 00′ 10”
70 DUCHESNE Antoine DIRECT ENERGIE + 00′ 10”
71 VANMARCKE Sep TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO + 00′ 10”
72 PERICHON Pierre-Luc FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT + 00′ 10”
73 KELDERMAN Wilco TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO + 00′ 10”
74 SICARD Romain DIRECT ENERGIE + 00′ 10”
75 IZAGUIRRE Gorka MOVISTAR TEAM + 00′ 10”
76 CHEREL Mikael AG2R LA MONDIALE + 00′ 10”
77 HENAO Sergio Luis TEAM SKY + 00′ 10”
78 GENE Yohann DIRECT ENERGIE + 00′ 10”
79 KOREN Kristijan CANNONDALE DRAPAC TEAM + 00′ 10”
80 BOZIC Borut COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS + 00′ 10”
81 FARIA DA COSTA Rui Alberto LAMPRE – MERIDA + 00′ 10”
82 SEPULVEDA Eduardo FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT + 00′ 10”
83 PANTANO Jarlinson IAM CYCLING + 00′ 10”
84 KIRYIENKA Vasili TEAM SKY + 00′ 10”
85 CANCELLARA Fabian TREK – SEGAFREDO + 00′ 10”
86 CONTADOR Alberto TINKOFF + 00′ 10”
87 YATES Adam ORICA-BIKEEXCHANGE + 00′ 10”
88 TOSATTO Matteo TINKOFF + 00′ 10”
89 TIRALONGO Paolo ASTANA PRO TEAM + 00′ 10”
90 MATTHEWS Michael ORICA-BIKEEXCHANGE + 00′ 10”
91 KISERLOVSKI Robert TINKOFF + 00′ 10”
92 HAYMAN Mathew ORICA-BIKEEXCHANGE + 00′ 10”
93 ALBASINI Michael ORICA-BIKEEXCHANGE + 00′ 10”
94 ROELANDTS Jurgen LOTTO SOUDAL + 00′ 10”
95 SIEBERG Marcel LOTTO SOUDAL + 00′ 10”
96 FRANK Mathias IAM CYCLING + 00′ 10”
97 BODNAR Maciej TINKOFF + 00′ 10”
98 GAUTIER Cyril AG2R LA MONDIALE + 00′ 10”
99 BUCHMANN Emanuel BORA-ARGON 18 + 00′ 10”
100 GESCHKE Simon TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN + 00′ 10”
101 PREIDLER Georg TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN + 00′ 10”
102 PIBERNIK Luka LAMPRE – MERIDA + 00′ 10”
103 VUILLERMOZ Alexis AG2R LA MONDIALE + 00′ 10”
104 CLEMENT Stef IAM CYCLING + 00′ 10”
105 STANNARD Ian TEAM SKY + 00′ 10”
106 ROSA Diego ASTANA PRO TEAM + 00′ 10”
107 MOLLEMA Bauke TREK – SEGAFREDO + 00′ 10”
108 KANGERT Tanel ASTANA PRO TEAM + 00′ 10”
109 FEILLU Brice FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT + 00′ 10”
110 MORENO FERNANDEZ Daniel MOVISTAR TEAM + 00′ 10”
111 PINOT Thibaut FDJ + 00′ 10”
112 REICHENBACH Sébastien FDJ + 00′ 10”
113 VICHOT Arthur FDJ + 00′ 10”
114 LANDA Mikel TEAM SKY + 00′ 10”
115 PINEAU Cedric FDJ + 00′ 10”
116 ZUBELDIA Haimar TREK – SEGAFREDO + 00′ 10”
117 ARASHIRO Yukiya LAMPRE – MERIDA + 00′ 10”
118 GOUGEARD Alexis AG2R LA MONDIALE + 00′ 10”
119 GASTAUER Ben AG2R LA MONDIALE + 00′ 10”
120 SORENSEN Chris Anker FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT + 00′ 10”
121 GUARNIERI Jacopo TEAM KATUSHA + 00′ 10”
122 ONRAD Patrick BORA-ARGON 18 + 00′ 10”
123 MEINTJES Louis LAMPRE – MERIDA + 00′ 10”
124 HUZARSKI Bartosz BORA-ARGON 18 + 00′ 10”
125 DURBRIDGE Luke ORICA-BIKEEXCHANGE + 00′ 10”
126 STETINA Peter TREK – SEGAFREDO + 00′ 10”
127 HOWES Alex CANNONDALE DRAPAC TEAM + 00′ 10”
128 BERHANE Natnael TEAM DIMENSION DATA + 00′ 10”
129 JEANDESBOZ Fabrice DIRECT ENERGIE + 00′ 10”
130 MOINARD Amaël BMC RACING TEAM + 00′ 10”
131 POLANC Jan LAMPRE – MERIDA + 00′ 10”
132 ROUX Anthony FDJ + 00′ 10”
133 ROY Jérémy FDJ + 00′ 10”
134 BONNET William FDJ + 00′ 10”
135 NAVARRO Daniel COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS + 00′ 10”
136 CARUSO Damiano BMC RACING TEAM + 00′ 10”
137 DURASEK Kristijan LAMPRE – MERIDA + 00′ 10”
138 LANGEVELD Sebastian CANNONDALE DRAPAC TEAM + 00′ 10”
139 TEN DAM Laurens TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN + 00′ 10”
140 PETIT Adrien DIRECT ENERGIE + 00′ 10”
141 ANACONA GOMEZ Winner Andrew MOVISTAR TEAM + 00′ 10”
142 BONO Matteo LAMPRE – MERIDA + 00′ 10”
143 BREEN Vegard FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT + 00′ 10”
144 BENNETT George TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO + 00′ 10”
145 SCHLECK Frank TREK – SEGAFREDO + 00′ 10”
146 HANSEN Adam LOTTO SOUDAL + 00′ 10”
147 CUMMINGS Stephen TEAM DIMENSION DATA + 00′ 10”
148 JANSE VAN RENSBURG Reinardt TEAM DIMENSION DATA + 00′ 10”
149 POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R LA MONDIALE + 00′ 10”
150 SLAGTER Tom Jelte CANNONDALE DRAPAC TEAM + 00′ 10”
151 VAKOC Petr ETIXX-QUICK STEP + 00′ 10”
152 WYNANTS Maarten TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO + 00′ 10”
153 COPPEL Jérôme IAM CYCLING + 00′ 10”
154 BOASSON HAGEN Edvald TEAM DIMENSION DATA + 00′ 10”
155 TEKLEHAIMANOT Daniel TEAM DIMENSION DATA + 00′ 10”
156 BENEDETTI Cesare BORA-ARGON 18 + 00′ 10”
157 LUTSENKO Alexey ASTANA PRO TEAM + 00′ 10”
158 ZAKARIN Ilnur TEAM KATUSHA + 00′ 10”
159 MARTIN Tony ETIXX-QUICK STEP + 00′ 10”
160 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin TEAM KATUSHA + 00′ 10”
161 LOSADA Alberto TEAM KATUSHA + 00′ 10”
162 BARTA Jan BORA-ARGON 18 + 00′ 10”
163 SCHILLINGER Andreas BORA-ARGON 18 + 00′ 10”
164 NIEVE Mikel TEAM SKY + 00′ 10”
165 VICIOSO Angel TEAM KATUSHA + 00′ 10”
166 EISEL Bernhard TEAM DIMENSION DATA + 00′ 10”
167 THOMAS Geraint TEAM SKY + 00′ 10”
168 BAKELANTS Jan AG2R LA MONDIALE + 00′ 10”
169 ROWE Luke TEAM SKY + 00′ 10”
170 KEISSE Iljo ETIXX-QUICK STEP + 00′ 10”
171 MORABITO Steve FDJ + 00′ 10”
172 BENNETT Sam BORA-ARGON 18 + 00′ 10”
173 LARCHBOLD Shane BORA-ARGON 18 + 00′ 10”
174 JEANNESSON Arnold COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS + 00′ 10”
175 MORKOV Michael TEAM KATUSHA + 00′ 10”
176 HALLER Marco TEAM KATUSHA + 00′ 10”
177 VOECKLER Thomas DIRECT ENERGIE + 01′ 32”
178 PLAZA MOLINA Ruben ORICA-BIKEEXCHANGE + 01′ 43”
179 FUGLSANG Jakob ASTANA PRO TEAM + 01′ 43”
180 JUUL-JENSEN Christopher ORICA-BIKEEXCHANGE + 01′ 43”
181 VAN BAARLE Dylan CANNONDALE DRAPAC TEAM + 01′ 43”
182 POELS Wouter TEAM SKY + 01′ 43”
183 GRMAY Tsgabu Gebremaryam LAMPRE – MERIDA + 01′ 43”
184 DELAPLACE Anthony FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT + 01′ 43”
185 EDET Nicolas COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS + 02′ 21”
186 DE GENDT Thomas LOTTO SOUDAL + 02′ 28”
187 VOSS Paul BORA-ARGON 18 + 02′ 30”
188 LADAGNOUS Matthieu FDJ + 02′ 31”
189 BOOKWALTER Brent BMC RACING TEAM + 02′ 58”
190 DENNIS Rohan BMC RACING TEAM + 02′ 58”
191 HOWARD Leigh IAM CYCLING + 02′ 58”
192 MAJKA Rafal TINKOFF + 02′ 58”
193 IZAGUIRRE Ion MOVISTAR TEAM + 02′ 58”
194 VERMOTE Julien ETIXX-QUICK STEP + 03′ 17”
195 COUSIN Jérome COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS + 03′ 42”
196 TULIK ANGÉLO DIRECT ENERGIE + 04′ 15”
197 BAK Lars Ytting LOTTO SOUDAL + 04′ 43”
198 NEDROOSEN Timo TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO + 04′ 43”

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