Under overcast skies around Lille, eager spectators – including many who crossed over from Belgium – lined the 185-km route of Stage 1 at this year's Tour de France.
In a nail-biting sprint finish, Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck surged ahead over the final 100 meters to claim victory by a clear margin. His teammate Mathieu van der Poel set the perfect lead-out, helping Philipsen secure his 10th Tour stage win and don the coveted yellow jersey for the first time.
"I have dreamed of wearing the yellow jersey," Philipsen said, recalling the goosebumps he felt among the cheering crowds. "I wore the green jersey two years ago, but this yellow will feel incredible."
Eritrean cyclist Biniam Girmay took second place, and Norwegian Soren Waerenskjold rounded out the podium in third. Behind them, defending champion Tadej Pogacar and two-time champion Jonas Vingegaard rode safely in the front group, finishing 18th and 20th respectively, all crossing the line in 3 hours and 53 minutes.
The opening stage also saw drama off the front. Double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel narrowly avoided a crash after 50 kilometers but later withdrew, while Swiss rider Stefan Bissegger was forced out following a separate incident. On a short cobblestoned ascent, Frenchmen Benjamin Thomas and Matteo Vercher collided in a fight for early climber points, though both recovered to continue.
Stage 1 set a high bar for the peloton and fans alike, combining fast-paced competition with moments of raw emotion. As the race moves forward, sprinters will chase the yellow jersey, and general classification contenders will regroup for the challenging terrain ahead.
Reference(s):
Philipsen wins first stage of Tour de France, Pogacar finishes safely
cgtn.com
