Lampaert Shocks 'big Guys' In Tour De France Opener
Muhammad Rameez Published July 02, 2022 | 12:25 AM
Belgian Yves Lampaert won the first stage of the Tour de France on Friday, gate-crashing the opening day individual time-trial as crowds defied the rain along the 13.2km route in downtown Copenhagen
Copenhagen, July 1 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Jul, 2022 ) :Belgian Yves Lampaert won the first stage of the Tour de France on Friday, gate-crashing the opening day individual time-trial as crowds defied the rain along the 13.2km route in downtown Copenhagen.
Quick-Step rider Lampaert suffered less from the rain with a later start than the pre-race favourites, finishing five seconds ahead of compatriot Wout van Aert, with defending champion Tadej Pogacar third best seven seconds off the pace.
Massive crowds packed the route in the Danish capital with cheers reverberating around the city as riders sped past the Little Mermaid statue, the harbour-front Blox building and the Amalienborg palace, where Crown Prince Frederik joined the celebration.
The 31-year-old Lampaert was overwhelmed with emotion when he realised he will wear the overall leader's yellow jersey on Saturday's second stage.
"I was hoping for a top ten, but not this," said the 2021 Belgian time-trial champion.
"I beat the big guys." Two-time defending champion Pogacar pulled on the white jersey as the fastest under-25 rider.
"It's great to be back on the Tour, the white jersey was my aim today," said the Team UAE leader.
"I loved the crowds and my time was good for the GC against my rivals," he said.
Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel had set the early pace when the rain was at its heaviest, but could not survive the passing of the big guns.
His face creased in pain from the relentless effort and stress of the rain slick-road van Aert took the lead ahead of his arch-rival, world champion Filippo Ganna, who suffered a puncture along the way.
Slovenian Pogacar then threw down the gauntlet to his title rivals cruising through the puddles, the 23-year-old all-rounder sprinted out of every corner in an expert ride.
Britsh hope Adam Yates was a picture of grim determination at the start gate but after producing a top drawer chrono, finished 23sec off the winner while his teammate Geraint Thomas was only a couple of seconds slower.
After a week of sweltering sun with Danes flocking to their beach lidos, rain began to fall on Copenhagen an hour ahead of the race.
But Danes enjoy an outdoor lifestyle and were almost uniformly equipped with colourful ponchos, producing a party atmosphere.
Runner-up on the 2021 Tour, former fish-factory worker Jonas Vingegaard was cheered loudest as the 25-year-old local rider went for broke to finish just 8sec off Pogacar's time.
His co-leader, former Vuelta a Espana winner Primoz Roglic of Slovenia, was only a second faster.
French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera was in Copenhagen for the race and said up to 600,000 fans had turned up for the what she described as "a lovely course in a magnificent city".
Oudea-Castera described the three-day Denmark Grand Depart of the Tour de France as an event that brought the two nations closer.
"It's wonderful to share these events with our European partners," she said.
Charismatic French climber Thibaut Pinot, a man known to play to the crowds, was impressed by the turn out.
"When you start the Tour de France abroad its always special, but this is another thing altogether."Wind and rain are forecast along the 202km coastal route for Saturday's stage two from Roskilde to Nyborg which should see a shake up the standings with a predicted crosswind on the giant 20km Grand Belt Bridge at the end of the race.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
SC orders end of encroachments in Karachi
Nazish Jahangir denies viral screenshots, calls them fake
Govt likely to hike electricity price once again
Bismah Maroof announces immediate retirement from international cricket
Malala expresses unwavering support for Gaza people
Selection committee dissolved over Pakistan women cricket team's poor performanc ..
Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz in police uniform at Chung police center
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 25 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 25 April 2024
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
More Stories From Sports
-
IOC Refugees Olympic Team to be announced on May 2
1 hour ago -
Bismah Maroof announces immediate retirement from international cricket
3 hours ago -
Norman sees Adelaide success as blueprint for all LIV Golf events
3 hours ago -
Mohsin Naqvi reconstitutes women’s selection committee
4 hours ago -
Selection committee dissolved over Pakistan women cricket team's poor performance
5 hours ago -
Paris holds its breath for Olympic swimming events in murky Seine
7 hours ago
-
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
17 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 1st update
17 hours ago -
Osaka seals first win on clay since 2022 in Madrid
17 hours ago -
Watford hire Cleverley as permanent boss
17 hours ago -
Karachi, Lahore, Multan win matches of National Women’s Cricket Tournament
18 hours ago -
No communication gap among players, asserts Babar Azam
18 hours ago