The first stage of the 103rd Tour de France started today as it meant to go on, with a fast-paced opening race that brought with it a breakaway, a relentlessly-high pace and a hard-fought finish. At the end of the day UCI World Champion, Peter Sagan, pushed hard for the win, but was just beaten to the line, taking third.
The 188km route started in the stunning Normandy town of Mont Saint-Michel, before heading up the western coast before the stage’s arrival at the historic Utah Beach. While the day was fairly flat, as is the character of this part of France, the race did cover two fourth category climbs before 40km were up, meaning all four jerseys were up for grabs by the end of the day. With such close proximity to the sea as well, strong wins would hit the peloton throughout the stretch up the coast. A flat finale meant a sprint finish was all but certain.
In spite of today being one for the sprinters, this didn’t stop the breakaways trying to spoil their fun. A group of three pushed ahead the moment the flag dropped for the start of the stage – and the race – and quickly gained some time. With three minutes’ advantage, a second attack came from the peloton, with two working to bridge the gap, catching with 160km of the day still to race.
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. We had no other incidents, and the other guys kept out of trouble. 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 got 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.”
With the stage over, Alberto was waiting to see how he felt when the adrenaline of the day’s racing had worn off, and wanted to concentrate on recovering. “Now, it’s a question of applying ice, doing a treatment with the Inbida machine and making sure the inflammation doesn’t get worse. I have scratches all over the right part of my body, from the ankle up to the shoulder. What can we do, that’s cycling. You might prepare intensely for months and then you crash.”
As the gap was brought down steadily, the two who had originally worked to bridge the gap went out in front again, leaving the original three escapees to be swallowed up by the chasing peloton. With 60km still to race, the break was going to see if they could hold out until the end, attacking each other to see who would take the day’s combativity prize, pulling ahead of the peloton once again.
It wasn’t to be however, as the peloton’s sprint teams weren’t going to let the day end without a bunch finish – with a perfect run-in for the fast men, their trains upped the pace, and the catch was made with 5km left.
Coming to the finish looking completely in control, Peter Sagan was surfing the other teams’ sprint trains as the finish line came closer. In the final few hundred metres it all came down to three men. Peter was looking strong as he started his sprint, quickly building up some incredible speed. It wasn’t to be, however, as he was just beaten to the line, taking third. With plenty of sprint stages still to come, and even more with terrain that will suit the Slovakian rider, there is everything still to race for.
Peter himself was pleased with his performance today. “There was a lot of stress in the group for nothing, and then in the final there were the usual guys at the front. Personally I’m very happy with my third place today and it’s a nice way to start the race. I didn’t have any problems in the finish and I can be happy with my result.”
Yates saw that today’s finish didn’t play entirely to Peter’s strengths, and was pleased to see him finish as strongly as he did. “Peter had a couple of guys looking after him for as long as possible coming into the finish but we don’t have a lead out here so he was on his own. He led it out from quite far and did a good sprint – it was super fast with the tailwind, which isn’t really his thing, so he did a good sprint and it’s a good result.”
Tomorrow’s stage will take riders 183km around the Cotentin Peninsula. Starting in Saint-Lô a little way south of today’s finish. The three categorised climbs early in the day shouldn’t trouble riders too much, however the third category ascent to the race’s first uphill finish could challenge some of the fast men looking to contest the win. This could be a day for the all-rounders.
Looking ahead, Yates saw that stage 2 was more suited to Peter’s strengths, and today’s ride showed he was bringing good form to the race. “Tomorrow’s sprint is more suited to Peter and if he’s strong like today he should be right up there again. There’s no 3km rule, so we’ll have to be up there at the end to the line with Alberto.”
The Spanish team leader was now looking to see how the next few days would pan out after his crash today, but was pleased it wasn’t worse. “Fortunately, I don’t have to go home and I will try to go through the following days in the best way possible so that I reach the mountains recovered. We will go to the hotel and assess the situation. When I place my shoulder in a certain position I am worried. As I said, it’s important to apply ice and as the days pass I will feel more pain. However, the Tour doesn’t finish here. We have to be optimistic and focus on the following hours in order to rest and recover as much as possible for tomorrow morning.”
Stage Result
1. Mark Cavendish (GBR) Dimension Data 04:14:05
2. Marcel Kittel (GER) Etixx – Quick-Step +00:00:00
3. Peter Sagan (SVK) Tinkoff +00:00:00
4. André Greipel (GER) Lotto Soudal +00:00:00
5. Edward Theuns (BEL) Trek-Segafredo +00:00:00
24. Roman Kreuziger (CZE) Tinkoff +00:00:00
28. Oscar Gatto (ITA) Tinkoff +00:00:00
42. Michael Valgren (DEN) Tinkoff +00:00:00
86. Alberto Contador (SPA) Tinkoff +00:00:00
88. Matteo Tosatto (ITA) Tinkoff +00:00:00
91. Robert Kiserlovski (CRO) Tinkoff +00:00:00
97. Maciej Bodnar (POL) Tinkoff +00:00:00
190. Rafal Majka (POL) Tinkoff +00:02:48
GC After Stage 1
1. Mark Cavendish (GBR) Dimension Data 04:13:55
2. Marcel Kittel (GER) Etixx – Quick-Step +00:00:04
3. Peter Sagan (SVK) Tinkoff Team +00:00:06
4. André Greipel (GER) Lotto Soudal +00:00:10
5. Edward Theuns (BEL) Trek-Segafredo +00:00:10
24. Roman Kreuziger (CZE) Tinkoff +00:00:10
28. Oscar Gatto (ITA) Tinkoff +00:00:10
42. Michael Valgren (DEN) Tinkoff +00:00:10
86. Alberto Contador (SPA) Tinkoff +00:00:10
88. Matteo Tosatto (ITA) Tinkoff +00:00:10
91. Robert Kiserlovski (CRO) Tinkoff +00:00:10
97. Maciej Bodnar (POL) Tinkoff +00:00:10
192. Rafal Majka (POL) Tinkoff +00:02:58
