The winner: Alexander Kristoff
The Norwegian (UAE Team Emirates) won the sprint in Nice. He signs his 4th stage victory on the Tour de France (after 2 in 2014, 1 in 2018), after having beaten Mads Pedersen (Trek), Cees Bol (Sunweb), Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Peter Sagan (Bora-Hangsgrohe. The Norwegian (33) takes the yellow jersey for the first time.
Word of the day: Fall
Leaders (Alaphilippe, Porte, Quintana, Lopez, Pinot), sprinters (Ewan, Bennett), valuable team members (Sivakov and Amador from the Ineos team) on land, the 1st stage (Nice-Nice: 156 km) launched in a stormy atmosphere was accompanied by rain which made the road slippery and caused the fall of many runners. The last, 2.9 km from the line, cutting in two a peloton preparing for the sprint. Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) struggling to relaunch himself, his jersey torn at the level of the right shoulder, his face marked. Classified in the time of the first. In fact, in order to limit the risks, the jury of marshals announced that the times would be recorded 3 km from the finish.
The fact of the day
The neutralization of the race. At 53.2 km from the finish, Tony Martin let go of the handlebars to raise his arms, temper the ardor and invite the peloton to reduce their speed. Proof of the control of the Jumbo-Visma team on the peloton. Just like what Fabian Cancellara did in 2010. A caution which did not prevent the fall of the New Zealander from the Dutch team George Bennett. In order to limit the risks, the jury of marshals announced that the times would be recorded 3 km from the finish.
The tweet
The fall of Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez, 46 km from the finish. Three Astana riders had taken a few steps ahead, in defiance of the instructions imposed by Tony Martin, probably to protect themselves rather than to plant a sharp attack. Placed on an ice rink, the leader of the Astana team, surprised in a left turn, took off his shoes before slipping, crossing the road and ending his mad race with his head in a traffic sign.
Miguel Angel Lopez, the leader of the Astana team, makes a mistake in a turn. Fortunately more fear than harm for the Colombian despite a spectacular fall # TDF2020
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The French
They stood out from the start. Fabien Grellier (Total Direct Energie) and Cyril Gautier (B&B Hôtels-Virtual Concept) were part with the Swiss Michaël Schär (CCC), awarded the Antargaz prize for combativeness, the breakaway which launched the stage, before be reached at the 98th km. Benoît Cosnefroy (AG2R-La Mondiale), well recovered from a fall at the start of the stage, escaped 18 km from the finish, before being resumed 6 km further on. Julian Alaphilippe had regained his legs in the final. Bryan Coquard (B & B-Vital Concept) took 8th place in the sprint, ahead of Anthony Turgis (Total Direct Energie).
Read also
- Tour de France 2020: Alexander Kristoff winner of the first stage and yellow jersey in the rain