Brilliant conditions greeted riders for the start of the 99th Tour de France last night – a flat 6.4km prologue time-trial through the streets of Liège, Belgium.
The first (and by far the shortest) of the three individual time-trials at this year’s Tour, the Liège to Liège effort marked the city’s second Grand Depart in eight years.
The inclusion of some inconsequential pavé (cobblestones) made the course no less suited to the time-trial specialists in the peloton.
Fabian “Spartacus” Cancellara (RadioShack-Nissan) showed that he is still the man to beat in races against the clock, notching up his seventh individual time-trial win at the Tour, his fourth in a prologue.
Much pre-race speculation surrounded the form of the Swiss hero, who crashed and fractured his collarbone at the Ronde van Vlaanderen earlier this season. Would he be at his best?
The short answer is yes, Cancellara taking the first yellow jersey of the Tour in 7’13”, a time that put him seven seconds ahead of his nearest rival Bradley Wiggins (Sky Pro Cycling).
Wiggins, who shares the “favourite” tag for the overall classification with Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), put together an impressive showing and stopped the watch at 7’20”.
Ukrainian time-trial champion Andriy Grivko (Astana) set the early pace with a time of 7’28”, before Australian Brett Lancaster (Orica-GreenEDGE) hit the line in 7’24”.
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky Pro Cycling) took over the reigns shortly after, pipping Lancaster by just 67 hundredths of a second. The Norwegian held the top position until the ever-aggressive Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-Quick-Step) came home in 7’20”. Chavanel was to finish third on the stage.
World time-trial champion Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quick-Step) looked resplendent in his rainbow jersey as he rolled down the start ramp. A man on a mission. But it was not to be for the German, who suffered a heartbreaking mechanical failure that cost him a crucial chunk of time.
Martin will be keen to rectify his undeservingly poor performance when stages nine and 19 roll around – 41.5km and 53.5km individual time-trials respectively.
Tomorrow the peloton faces the first road stage of this year’s tour – a 198km journey from Liège to Seraing that sees the riders remain in Belgium for another day.
Stage one features five category four climbs:
• Km 42.0 – Cote de Cokaifagne (543m) – 2.9km climb to 5.1%
• Km 49.0 – Cote de Francorchamps (486m) – 1.1km climb to 6.4%
• Km 94.0 – Cote de Lierneux (527m) – 2.1km climb to 5.1%
• Km 139.0 – Cote de Barvaux (220m) – 1.6km climb to 4.2%
• Km 195.6 – Seraing (204m) – 2.4km climb to 4.7%
It is a lumpy stage and a good opportunity for some of the main contenders to work into the three-week race.
Do not be surprised to see those with King of the Mountains aspirations in a breakaway, keen to put some early points on the board. Chris Anker Sorensen (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank) is one man who springs to mind. He may play his hand early in the absence of team leader Alberto Contador.
The ascent to the finish line is not overly steep and has a striking resemblance to that of the first stage at last year’s Tour, which was won by Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing). The Belgian could make it two opening road stages in a row.
Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) is another rider that packs a mean punch on the climbs that eliminate some of the sprinters, but which are not steep enough to advantage the pure climbers.
Or will the versatile and much spoken of Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) take home the chocolates?
We shall find out tomorrow night.
Tour de France Prologue Results
1. CANCELLARA Fabian, RADIOSHACK-NISSAN, 07′ 13″
2. WIGGINS Bradley, SKY PROCYCLING, 07′ 20″ + 00′ 07″
3. CHAVANEL Sylvain, OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK-STEP, 07′ 20″ + 00′ 07″
4. VAN GARDEREN Tejay, BMC RACING, 07′ 23″ + 00′ 10″
5. HAGEN Edvald Boasson, SKY PROCYCLING, 07′ 24″ + 00′ 11″
6. LANCASTER Brett, ORICA-GREENEDGE, 07′ 24″ + 00′ 11″
13. EVANS Cadel, ORICA-GREENEDGE, 07′ 30″ + 00′ 17″
14. NIBALI Vincenzo, LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE, 07′ 31″ + 00′ 18″
15. HESJEDAL Ryder, GARMIN-SHARP, 07′ 31″ + 00′ 18″
45. MARTIN Tony, OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK-STEP, 07′ 36″ + 00′ 23″
53. SAGAN Peter, LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE, 07′ 37″ + 00′ 24″
65. GESINK Robert, RABOBANK, 07′ 39″ + 00′ 26″
77. VAN DEN BROEK Jurgen, OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK-STEP, 07′ 41″ + 00′ 28″
90. BASSO Ivan, LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE, 07′ 42″ + 00′ 29″
116. VALVERDE Alejandro, MOVISTAR, 07′ 48″ + 00′ 35″
129. SCARPONI Michele, LAMPRE-ISD, 07′ 50″ + 00′ 37″
136. SCHLECK Frank, RADIOSHACK-NISSAN, 07′ 51″ + 00′ 38″
145. SANCHEZ Samuel, EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI, 07′ 53″ + 00′ 40″
Tour de France Overall Standings
1. CANCELLARA Fabian, RADIOSHACK-NISSAN, 0h 07′ 13″
2. WIGGINS Bradley, SKY PROCYCLING, 0h 07′ 20″ + 00′ 07″
3. CHAVANEL Sylvain, OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK-STEP, 0h 07′ 20″ + 00′ 07″
4. VAN GARDEREN Tejay, BMC RACING, 0h 07′ 23″ + 00′ 10″
5. HAGEN Edvald Boasson, SKY PROCYCLING, 0h 07′ 24″ + 00′ 11″
6. LANCASTER Brett, ORICA-GREENEDGE, 0h 07′ 24″ + 00′ 11″
7. GRETSCH Patrick, ARGOS-SHIMANO, 0h 07′ 25″ + 00′ 12″
8. MENCHOV Denis, KATUSHA, 0h 07′ 26″ + 00′ 13″
9. GILBERT Philippe, BMC RACING, 0h 07′ 26″ + 00′ 13″
10. GRIVKO Andriy, ASTANA, 0h 07′ 28″ + 00′ 15″
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
I would be guessing, of course, but I would say no. It really is all about Cadel's overall success at BMC this year.
Justin Curran
Roar Rookie
But will they try to defend it?
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
If Gilbert finds himself in yellow tonight it will be nothing more than a bonus for BMC. Their primary goal of getting Cadel to a second straight TDF win will not falter.
Justin Curran
Roar Rookie
What do you think are the chances of Gilbert being in yellow tonight? And if so, what do BMC do?
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
I like the way you think liquorbox_. Definitely exploring an idea that's outside the box. As Grand Tours of recent years have shown, the KOM jersey is not necessarily always won by one of the "purest" climbers in the peloton. It can definitely be taken out by the guys that are just willing to have a crack in breakaways and on uphill finishes. Gerrans is one of these guys. Hope you're onto something here!
liquorbox_
Guest
Has anyone thought Gerrans could also look at the polka dot jersey? It would be great for a new team to achieve and he has shown he can win a short sprint at the top of a hill. At 7 minutes down he could break away, collect all of the points and then fall back to the peloton, or behind it to remove the threat for the next day. Once the peloton realises he is not a threat they will let him be. I actually think he would be a better chance of winning the polka dot than Goss winning Green. I think it would actually get some publicity in Australia too as I think the non cycling public are amazed at the feats of guys who can climb mountains
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
I wouldn't say I have "picked" Sorensen for the win on tonight's stage - he is just one of the men that may look to get some KOM points on the board. After accumulating a few points he may even choose to go back into the main field.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
I wouldn't describe him as unpredictable, more a "silent assassin" - he is a serious dark horse for the overall win. Strong in the mountains and against the clock, with a decent team too! Plus he has large amounts of Tour experience - 5th in 2006, 4th in 2008, 2nd in 2010!
Pacemaker
Roar Rookie
Not to be inflammatory but you just listed almost the entire peleton! (And it's Chris Anker Sorensen not Andy Sorensen)
Zee Ko
Roar Rookie
For me, what was interesting was Denis Menchov's time. You know how unpredictable a rider he is, and having entered this year's TdF with little fanfare, he just might be the dark horse of the Tour.
Maria Szczerba
Guest
Hi all, I have to disagree with your pick of Andy Sorenson and I predict Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins, Fabian Cancellera, Philipe Gilbert, Thomas Voeckler, Samuel Sanchez, Cadel Evans and the likes of Stuart O'Grady, Denis Menchov, and other riders coming to the front of this epic stage 1.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
You love both!! You have been commenting about Sagan and Boss Hog to an amazing extent! It's awesome to have such a fan commenting on articles.
Zee Ko
Roar Rookie
I love Boasson Hagen, not Sagan. Think it's a little too early for Sagan, who's your favourite I might point out.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Nom nom nom, hope you're enjoying that humble pie Zee! You love Sagan, perhaps a little too much (no such thing as too much!). You did indeed, I'm sure there's material evidence of that prediction somewhere.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
That is exactly what they were saying and it's what I am saying.
Zee Ko
Roar Rookie
What was that they kept saying about Cadel? That he's a master at limiting losses?
Zee Ko
Roar Rookie
Cancellera is a time trial beast. Should never have doubted him, no matter his form in the run up. And yes, this is me eating humble pie, though I did predict Tony Martin's mechanical haha. Great work, Kit!
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Well I doubt he wants the yellow jersey this early in proceedings, not to worry, he'll be in amongst it very soon.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Thanks Zac, I appreciate it.
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
Great review Kit, really enjoyed it.