Emotions ran excessive after the opening stage of the 2024 Tour de France in Rimini – and never simply because the French house favorite Romain Bardet claimed a breakaway stage win and the primary yellow jersey of his profession in his remaining outing on the race.
Leading the peloton house behind Bardet and his DSM-Firmenich PostNL teammate Frank van den Broek was Belgian star Wout van Aert, rounding out the rostrum for the perfect end result since he crashed out of the spring Classics at Dwars door Vlaanderen three months in the past.
Van Aert, who competed on the Tour of Norway and the Belgian National Championships earlier than beginning his sixth Tour de France, was emotional after crossing the road, having accomplished a protracted comeback from the damaged ribs, collarbone, and sternum suffered at Dwars.
He’s been compelled to overlook out on the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, and a Giro d’Italia debut within the meantime. But a 3rd place on stage 1 – regardless of days in the past claiming he has “by no means began the Tour in such poor kind” – was a great motive to let the feelings circulation.
“It’s actually satisfying to point out this once more,” Van Aert mentioned amid tears of aid previous the end line within the resort city on the shore of the Adriatic Sea. “Obviously, it is a pity I got here up brief on the win however the place I got here from, I by no means anticipated to be right here on this stage, and it feels actually good.”
The 206km opening stage was a tricky one, with seven main climbs packing the route and distancing all however essentially the most versatile of fastmen – Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Alex Aranburu (Movistar) additionally completed among the many prime 10 – whereas temperatures reached an uncomfortable 35°C.
The route, and the circumstances – plus some arduous pacemaking set mid-stage by UAE Team Emirates – mixed to make it a difficult day within the saddle, with solely 46 males ending in the principle group behind Bardet and Van den Broek.
Van Aert mentioned that he may see others struggling through the five-hour stage, however realised that he, in distinction, was feeling extra optimistic.
“Throughout the race, I may see that numerous guys had been struggling, and I felt fairly OK nonetheless,” he mentioned. “So, slowly I gained confidence – particularly within the final 4 climbs. The first two had been the toughest so after I was over them, I began to consider in it.
“I additionally requested the boys to completely commit for the stage win. It’s clearly a disgrace we missed out on that, however I’m actually pleased with my efficiency and of how we rode.”
His Visma-Lease A Bike had been among the many groups doing the majority of the work within the remaining 52km of the stage, which included the ultimate three climbs. The Dutch squad, later joined by Lidl-Trek who labored for Pedersen, fell simply in need of catching the DSM duo.
However, the day was nonetheless a optimistic expertise, with group chief and defending race champion Jonas Vingegaard additionally coming via with none difficulties on his first day again within the peloton following his personal spring-ruining crash at Itzulia Basque Country.
“I believe [Jonas was] by no means in bother,” Van Aert mentioned of his Danish teammate. “Also, it was an excellent hectic day with twisty roads, so it should give him a great feeling to complete off like this.”
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