2020 Tour de France: Stage 1 Results

Alexander Kristoff of UAE Team Emirates won a crash-marred finish of Stage 1 of the 2020 Tour de France, taking not only the stage victory, but the yellow jersey.

The 156 km inaugural stage was characterized by numerous crashes due to the heavy rain that featured throughout the entire race.

Michael Schär (CCC), Cyril Gautier (B&B Hotels-Vital Concept) and Fabien Grellier (Total Direct Energie) rode away from the peloton right after the grand depart. They reached the first sprint point at 38.5km with an advantage of 2’40″ over the peloton that experienced a first crash involving top sprinter Sam Bennett. Bennett’s teammate Julian Alaphilippe slipped in a wet downhill at km 65 and fought his way back afterwards while Russian rookie Pavel Sivakov (Ineos Grenadier) struggled for a while at the back after a serious crash.

The peloton slowed down to wait for the injured riders and avoid further damages. Sivakov crashed again after he made it across. More crashes occurred and affected top sprinters Caleb Ewan and Giacomo Nizzolo. Grellier was the first breakaway rider to get reeled in. Schär and Gautier, who passed the côte de Rimiez in that order, got caught at km 98. The regrouped peloton slowed down due to the rainy conditions, enabling Nizzolo and Ewan to come back. Astana broke the gentleman agreement but as Omar Fraile sped up in a downhill, Miguel Angel Lopez lost the control of his bike and bumped into a traffic sign. The Colombian got back on.

The group moved cautiously along the descents of the course, only to put the hammer down again in the final 20 km.

In Nice, on the final straight, Kristoff unleashed his power with a perfectly timed sprint, where he overtook Mads Pedersen (Trek – Segafredo) and Cees Bol (Team Sunweb).

Today’s victory gives UAE Team Emirates their first ever yellow jersey. It will be the first time in yellow also for Kristoff, his fourth career success at the Tour (his last win at the Grand Boucle dates back to the final stage of the 2018 edition).

“It’s a dream to wear the yellow jersey, I don’t think you can ask for anything better,” Kristoff said at the finish. “The team came here to aim for the General Classification and some sprint stages. I was hoping, but I didn’t think I would win so early. Today I was riding well and I was able to give my best on the final straight, realizing that I was in the frame for a win. I stayed in the wheels for a while, coming out on the right in the final and, when I realized it was the right moment, I pushed hard. In the past few months I haven’t been able to give my best and I also crashed at the European Championships, so being here celebrating is a great feeling.”

Tomorrow Kristoff will face the second stage in yellow, 186 km starting and finishing in Nice. The hilly route features the Col de la Colomiane, Col de Turini, Col d’Eze and Col des Quatres Chemins.

2020 Tour de France Stage 1 Results:

1. Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirate) 3h46’23 “
2. Mads Pedersen (Trek – Segafredo) s.t.
3. Cees Bol (Team Sunweb) s.t.
4. Sam Bennett (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) s.t.
5. Peter Sagan (BORA-Hansgrohe) s.t.
6. Elia Viviani (Cofidis) s.t.
7. Giacomo Nizzolo (NTT Pro Cycling) s.t.
8. Bryan Coquard (B&B Hotels – Vital Concept) s.t.
9. Anthony Turgis (Total Direct Energie) s.t.
10. Jasper Stuyven (Trek – Segafredo) s.t.

General Classification after Stage 1:

1. Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirate) 3h46’13 “
2. Mads Pedersen (Trek – Segafredo) @ 4 ″
3. Cees Bol (Team Sunweb) @ 6 ″
4. Sam Bennett (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) s.t.
5. Peter Sagan (BORA-Hansgrohe) s.t.
6. Elia Viviani (Cofidis) s.t.
7. Giacomo Nizzolo (NTT Pro Cycling) s.t.
8. Bryan Coquard (B&B Hotels – Vital Concept) s.t.
9. Anthony Turgis (Total Direct Energie) s.t.
10. Jasper Stuyven (Trek – Segafredo) s.t.

Sprint Leaders:

1. Alexander Kristoff (NOR) — 59 points
   
2. Mads Pedersen (DEN) — 30
3. Peter Sagan (SVK) — 29
4. Sam Bennett (IRL) — 28
5. Michael Schar (SUI) — 20

Mountain Leaders:

1. Fabien Grellier (FRA) — 2 points
2. Michael Schar (SUI) — 2
3. Cyril Gautier (FRA) — 2

Young Rider:

1. Mads Pedersen (DEN) @ 3h46’17”
2. Cees Bol (NED) @ 2″
3. Sergio Higuita (COL) at 6″
4. Tadej Pogacar (SVK) s.t.
5. Connor Swift (GBR) s.t.