Frenchman Romain Bardet wins the 1st stage after a masterful escape

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In a thrilling finale, the two DSM riders resisted the return of the pack of favourites with only a five-second lead over the group at the finish. The young Dutchman Frank van den Broek, who did a remarkable job for his French teammate, gave Bardet victory at the end of a scorching day that turned into an ordeal for many riders, except for the main favourites.

Present since the start of the day in the breakaway which also included the Frenchman Valentin Madouas, the 23-year-old Dutchman first waited for his leader when he extricated himself from the peloton to come and swallow up the breakaways one by one. He then pulled huge relays to take him into the long flat part in the finale towards Rimini, on the banks of the Adriatic Sea, and resisted the return of the peloton in the traditional game of cat and mouse which often ends badly for the escapees.

This is the fourth victory in the Tour de France for the 33-year-old Frenchman, who finished second in the general classification in 2016 and third the following year but had never before worn the yellow jersey. This year he is competing in his last Grande Boucle after announcing a few days ago that he was going to retire in June 2025.

The yellow jersey, ” I had come to terms with it a little »

“ I am finally myself », admitted Romain Bardet after the race, explaining that he felt free from the pressure of the ranking for his last Grande Boucle. “ It’s the first time I’ve smiled before the start of a Tour de France. Not doing the general takes a lot of pressure off me. Running without a second thought was fabulous ” explained the DSM climber.

” It’s crazy. As if in cycling, there are still unexpected moments. It was sublime “, also rejoiced the Frenchman, who at the same time praised the work of his teammate ” who deserves as much as me, because he pulled me on the flat at the end. He is truly a great talent “.

“ I have no words », Reacted Frank van den Broek, his breakaway partner of the day. “ When I saw the gap with the peloton during the last climb of the day, I said to myself that it could do it. It was very hard in the last few hundred meters, I saw the peloton chasing us, my legs hurt so much. »

Romain Bardet is the first Frenchman to wear the yellow jersey since Julian Alaphilippe in 2021. It had always been a goal of my career, and honestly I had come to terms with it a little. “, he admitted. At 33, he is in any case launching his final Tour de France in the best possible way.

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