Refresh
Cavendish has simply been sick once more on the descent. He isn’t making any inroads, three minutes adrift from the peloton.
Cavendish is visibly unwell. He vomited on the bike close to the highest of his summit. He’ll be relieved to be descending once more, however desperately must recuperate quick with so many extra climbs to come back. For now, he appears in a world of ache.
150KM TO GO
He has 4 teammates with him making an attempt to encourage him, however is shaking his head and searching dangerous. He’ll want to search out reserves of power from someplace or else his Tour is in peril.
Each time the digicam goes again to Cavendish, he’ having water poured over him. He is trying very uncomfortable.
The peloton now attain the highest of the climb. EF’s work has been sufficient to convey the hole again down from six minutes to 5 minutes already.
Three and a half minutes after the leaders, Vercher crests the climb. It appears there isn’t any manner he is making it again into that group.
Extra sprinters now being dropped out the peloton – Fabio Jakobsen and, extra surprisingly, Fernando Gaviria.
Izagirre took most factors, from Madouas and Abrahamsen. It wasn’t an all-out dash, however they’ve nonetheless proven intent.
The break attain the highest of the primary climb, and there is a tussle for the KOM factors…
They’re working for Alberto Bettiol, the recently-crowned Italian champion. What a narrative it might be for him to win on house roads within the tricolore.
With the hole having grown to over six minutes, EF Training-EasyPost are the primary workforce to take issues into their very own fingers and lead the peloton.
Cavendish has his teammates round him, however he is 25 seconds off the peloton.
Mark Cavendish has been dropped out the peloton, and is struggling. The best way he’s dousing himself in water suggests he may be struggling within the warmth.
Now that he is made it into the break ultimately, Abrahamsen wants maintaining a tally of. The Norwegian rider was a livewire final 12 months, attacking a number of occasions, and has since confirmed himself a breakaway specialist.
160KM TO GO
The third standout title is Valentin Madouas, again in Groupama-FDJ colors having simply misplaced his French nationwide champion title. Not like the opposite two, he hasn’t earlier than gained a Tour stage, although has come shut with a second place end in 2022. He was wanting to get into the break initially of the day, and can need to benefit from it having succeeded.
The rider within the break with the very best climbing credentials is Ion Izagirre. He’s not had the shape to be thought-about a risk on GC, therefore being allowed up the highway, however ought to nonetheless fancy his probabilities of dropping the remainder of the break come the later climbs.
So who’re the riders within the break? The headline title is Matej Mohorič, who final 12 months added a 3rd profession Tour stage win to his palmares. This type of terrain fits him, although you might need anticipated him to carry again till later within the Tour, when breaks usually tend to succeed, to strive his hand at a breakaway.
The tempo is de facto off within the peloton now, permitting the hole to develop to 4-40. Somebody within the peloton must take management finally, if they’re to convey this break again and contest for the stage, and the race’s first yellow jersey.
TotalEnergies consultant Vercher is being dropped from the break on the climb. The issue for riders from the wildcard groups like them on a day as robust as as we speak is that, even when they reach making the break, staying in it’s no assure.
Gibbons and Abrahamsen have made the juncture, that means the lead group is now made up of 9 riders.
The break is climbing for the primary time as we speak, taking over the primary of seven hills. It’s virtually all both uphill or downhill till now and the end in Rimini.
First sighting of the world champion Mathieu van der Poel, nevertheless it’s out the again of the peloton. He is needing somebody to repair his radio.
170KM TO GO
Vingegaard is again safely within the peloton.
Abrahamson has Ryan Gibbons on his wheel, and the peloton appears completely happy to allow them to go clear.
Bike change for Jonas Vingegaard within the peloton – because of a mechanical, not a crash.
Uno-X Mobility aren’t carried out but although – now Abrahamsen tries to rise up the highway.
The work from Lidl-Trek has introduced again the Uno-X Mobility duo.
Lidl-Trek riders at the moment are pulling within the peloton. That is an early sign of intent – do they fancy Mads Pedersen to handle to recover from the climbs as we speak?
Large crowds on the roadside because the riders cross by way of Dicomano. The Italians have turned out in numbers to greet the Tour.
Rasmus Tiller and Odd Christian Eiking are the 2 Uno-X riders. They’re 15 seconds forward of the peloton, however nonetheless 1-20 behind the seven leaders.
180KM TO GO
As an alternative, they’ve fired two riders up the highway in a counter-attack.
They are not committing to main the peloton, both. The tempo is off once more.
Cort’s introduced again, and now one among his Uno-X teammates ups the tempo within the peloton. It is clear the workforce are sad about lacking the break, however they appear in combined minds as to what to do subsequent.
Magnus Cort jumped out of the peloton, however already appeared to have given up the ghost.
52 seconds now between the peloton and the seven leaders. If anybody needs to bridge, they are going to need to go now.
There have been some riders making an attempt to bridge as much as them, Gianni Vermeersch and Jonas Abrahamsen however they’ve been introduced again.
The group in full:
It is a sturdy group, too. Mohorič, Ion Izagirre and Valentin Madouas are all current.
47 seconds for this 7-man group – this actually looks like the day’s break.
The tempo has slowed within the peloton – this may be the break of the day.
Wout van Aert has his hand up in the back of the peloton. He is taking issues straightforward for now, however may very well be a contender for the stage later relying on how nicely recovered he’s from his damage.
190KM TO GO
It appears not – a flurry of counter-attacks from the peloton has seen every part come again collectively once more.
García Pierna now has seven riders with him on the entrance, and a handful of seconds on the peloton. Might this be the break?
Raúl García Pierna has managed to flee and is out in entrance alone, with a small group behind him chasing.
All the things is again collectively once more within the peloton.
Jan Hirt is in the back of the peloton, and already struggling. What an unlucky begin to the Tour for him.
DSM is the best-represented workforce within the present main group, with two riders.
They’re introduced again, and a brand new group of 5 strive their luck, with a Groupama-FDJ rider concerned once more.
A brand new group now making an attempt to clear, that includes Paul Lapeira, now very conspicuous in his tricolore jersey as newly topped French nationwide champion.
That transfer has been introduced again.
A bunch of about ten now has the most important hole we have seen to this point, however even that’s just a few seconds.
Even fortmer podium finisher Romain Bardet is getting concerned within the assaults! That is removed from the standard suspects of wildcard groups and small names making an attempt to get into the break.
Stefan Küng can be being vigorous on the entrance. Groupama-FDJ appear wanting to get into the break as we speak, and have their strongest males utilised.
After a pause of some moments, the assaults start, led by Groupama-FDJ’s Valentin Madouas.
205KM TO GO
A horrible begin to the Tour for Jan Hirt, even earlier than the unofficial begin. The Czech rider crashed on his manner again to the workforce bus after signing on, breaking three of his enamel. Soudal-QuickStep workforce will want him to recuperate, as he’s set to be a key domestique within the mountains for Remco Evenepoel.
Now simply 4km till the official begin. Typically earlier Grand Tour levels may be characterised by how little riders need to get into the break, however the quantity of climbing on the menu as we speak, and the prospect of every part from a Polka-dot jersey and fame on such a giant event, ought to imply there’s motion as soon as the flag drops quickly.
Nonetheless 10km left of the neutralised zone. The Tour de France is profiting from this distinctive Grand Départ.
Though there are not any climbs ranked increased than class two as we speak, there are loads of them — seven in complete, amounting to three,600m elevation acquire in complete. It’s been described as one of many hardest begins to a Tour de France, and one which even many puncheurs will discover too exhausting.
Mark Cavendish is in good spirits, waving to the gang because the peloton units off from the unofficial begin. He’s right here using the fifteenth Tour of his profession, and is, as has been a lot mentioned, chasing the record-breaking thirty fifth win.
The riders have simply set off from the neutralised zone – the Tour is to start quickly! Not simply but, although, as they are going to spend longer than ordinary within the zone than ordinary as they savour the sights of Florence.
Observe our Instagram for on-the-ground updates in Florence and Rimini on our tales:
Ensure that to take a look at CN’s mega Grand Départ tech gallery, as shot and put collectively by our affiliate editor Josh Croxton, who’s on the bottom in Italy for the opening 3 levels:
Big reception for World Champion Mathieu van der Poel as he brings the rainbow bands to the Tour de France.
Simply half-hour till the départ fictif now in Florence. Reminder that it’s absolute scorcher as we speak in Tuscany so temperature regulation shall be extremely necessary.
This is Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) arriving initially of stage 1 on his sixteenth and remaining Tour de France.
Ensure that to meet up with this nice learn on the significance of the Italian Grand Départ, which honours the hometowns and coaching roads of Italian greats Gino Bartali, Marco Pantani and Fausto Coppi:
Fantastic reception for fan-favourite Mark Cavendish on stage in Florence, a spot pricey to his coronary heart. He is right here in quest of stage win 35.
Reminder that though it’s a punchy day, Mathieu van der Poel does not see it was an possibility for himself of Jasper Philipsen:
Large crowds welcome the primary workforce on stage, TotalEnergies.
Groups have arrived in Florence and are gearing up for sign-on and the workforce presentation. This is Visma-Lease a Bike and defending champion Jonas Vingegaard setting off from their workforce lodge this morning.
To get issues began, be sure to learn our preview of stage 1, written by one among CN’s workforce on the bottom on the Grand Départ, Dani Ostanek:
It is again, lastly! The most important bike race on the planet is about to start out and we’re getting the build-up began an hour and a half earlier than the riders set off from the neutralised begin in stunning Florence.
Bonjour and welcome to Cyclingnews stay protection of stage 1 of the 111th 2024 Tour de France!