Complicated day and victory for Alaphilippe on the first stage of the 2021 Tour de France

The stage was undoubtedly quite exciting. If the mission in the first week of the Tour de France is to be as calm as possible and avoid incidents, today was not the day. Crashes, cuts, breakaways and abandonments. The Tour de France 2021 is starting in a convulsive way.

A difficult morning and a massive fall

In the first two hours of the race, 42.6 kilometres per hour on average. This is the best example of the pace at which this Tour de France 2021 started, at an accelerated rhythm, with a wind at the back and, unfortunately, with a lot of incidents. The first hours of this edition have been quite complicated.

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Everything started with a four-minute escape after 30 kilometres, but everything seemed to indicate that it was just an attempt that would come to nothing. In fact, with 100 kilometres to go, they were only two minutes ahead. The 2021 Tour de France was passing through Quimper, where the last time something similar happened was in a steep climb finish won by Sagan in 2018.

Good temperature, about 15 degrees all morning. The problem was the wind in some sections: it started with a wind from behind, hence the high average speed, but halfway through the stage it started to blow from the right side, making the peloton quite uncomfortable.

In fact, for this reason there were also a few crashes, falls without serious consequences, but scary ones nonetheless. We already know that success in a Tour depends to a large extent on avoiding fans and crashes in the first week. For the moment, riders such as Pedersen or Peintre have already seen the ground.

Van der Poel changed his shoes and the pull of the other teams at the head of the peloton began. Jumbo, Ineos and Movistar took control, all with the aim of controlling the bunch before the crossing of the Cote de Saint-Rivoal, and entering in a good position. Nothing foreshadowed what would happen in the next half hour. It was chaos.

The sprint finish and final result could be sensed

First of all, a very hard crash for Tony Martin. The Jumbo-Visma rider crashed into a spectator's sign, went to the ground and dragged a large number of other riders with him. The rest of the group came to a standstill, and only a couple of dozen riders made it through the break.

At that moment, one of the most regrettable images: Deceuninck-Quick Step was keeping up the pace. Only a few minutes later they lifted their foot, probably on the advice of a decent member of the management. A solution in time, any other action would have been a crime to the sport.

They were arriving in small numbers, including Tony Martin himself, who was badly damaged all over his left side. Other riders were not as lucky: Sütterlin dropped out, and Supermán López fell behind. At the same time, Sagan and Geoghegan Hart saw that their bikes were not going well. Deceuninck pressed again and little by little the rest of the riders, including López himself and Van Aert, joined him. None of the favourites were affected.

With 25 to go, Schelling's dream of a solo attempt came to an end. And with 10 to go, the peloton was united at a hellish pace. In fact, the pace began to slow down in the face of the sledgehammer that Ineos Grenadiers was imposing on the whole bunch. And almost better, because the key moment was coming.

With 7 to go, there was a huge crash in the peloton. Everyone began to make their guesses and the list of names began: Froome seemed to have hurt himself quite badly; Jon Izagirre was also involved. But Israel was undoubtedly the most affected and, of course, no one was stopping so close to the finish line. At almost 50 kilometres per hour, these men were going to lose precious time in the general classification. Names were dropping, one after the other, but Froome was by far the most affected: either because of damage or as a precaution for his previous injury, everything indicated that the abandonment was his last chance.

Deceunick was pulling Alaphilippe tremendously. Van der Poel was making a big effort to move up and stay on the wheel. With two kilometres to go, Alaphilippe broke away. Too much distance, but the Frenchman looked very strong. He measured wrongly here, and behind they organised quickly and went after him, with Roglic and Pogacar in this trio. What a sieve in the first stage.

Alaphilippe won easily. He becomes the yellow jersey and starts this edition as he finished the penultimate edition of the Tour de France. Giving a show, being very strong and winning the stage. A group of 14 other riders, including Enric Mas, Pogacar, Roglic and Van der Poel, were just 8 seconds behind. It is clear where it will all come down to the wire. Cyclists like Miguel Ángel López lost almost two minutes on the first day. A bad start for sure.

In short, a complicated day, a spectacular pace and the roosters well charged with energy. We have three spectacular weeks ahead of us.

STAGE 1:

1. Alaphilippe, J. - Deceuninck Quick Step | 4:39:05
2. Matthews, M - Bike Exchange | +8"
3. Roglic, P - Jumbo Visma | +8"

GENERAL RANKING:

1. Alaphilippe, J. - Deceuninck Quick Step | 4:39:05
2. Matthews, M - Bike Exchange | +8"
3. Roglic, P - Jumbo Visma | +8"