The 2017 Tour de France is finally here, and Tony Martin will be favourite to win Stage 1 on home soil in a 14-kilometre time trial around Düsseldorf, while the first sorting out of general classification riders also takes place. Join The Roar for live coverage and updates from 11pm (AEST).
While the battle for the first yellow jersey will be on, it seems to be almost a forgone conclusion that time trial world champion Tony Martin will don it.
He is a class above in the race against the clock, and with Fabian Cancellara retired there is no one who will seemingly come close to him on a flat course in his home country of Germany.
The time trial, on the banks of the Rhein River is almost pancake flat, but has some tight twists and turns through the middle part which could prove dangerous.
That’s made even more so by the weather forecast. Rain is expected for the first stage of the race and it will be slippery with the weather ugly in the days leading up. If this is the case, then 90 degree turns are going to be less than appealing.
The first four kilometres down the bank of the river are straight forward, but then it’s a 90 degree turn to the left and an acute angled turn back to the right to get onto the other side of the river.
The riders will then be tasked with looping their way to the time check, with three more or less right angled turns in less than a kilometre on either side.
The final four kilometres are back up the other side of the road though, making for what should be a fast and relatively easy finish.
The biggest question appears to be finding out if anyone can challenge Tony Martin. Primoz Roglic will be the lead contender. He missed the 2016 Giro d’Italia prologue by less than a second to Tom Dumoulin, who of course isn’t racing.
Jonathan Castroviejo is another hopeful, while others to watch include Australia’s Luke Durbridge, Vasil Kiryienka and Maciej Bodnar, as well as general classification contenders Chris Froome and Richie Porte.
The former teammates are the best of the time trialists in the GC bunch and the rest will be out to avoid losing time, with Esteban Chavez, Nairo Quintana and Romain Bardet at the top of that list, none of whom are noted for an ability against the clock.
Prediction
You can’t go past Tony Martin on home soil. It’s almost a given that he will slip on the first yellow jersey.
The more intriguing battle is for general classification and who will be able to pull the first punch. The race won’t be won today, but Porte has been in superb form and I expect him to come out ahead of Froome in that battle.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 1 from 11pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Jon
Roar Rookie
Sky definitely fired the first shots of the TDF 2017 with not only the win, but the number of well placed riders. Yates had a pretty decent ride. I expect he'd sign up any day to be just 20 odd seconds behind Froome after that ITT. Plus 10 seconds in front of the likes of Porte, Contador, Quintana, etc.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this morning on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2017 Tour de France as Geraint Thomas took out Stage 1 and the first yellow jersey, while Chris Froome became the best of the GC riders early in the piece with what was a dominant day for Team Sky. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. Brendon Vella will be taking you through Stage 2 into Liege from 10pm (AEST) this evening. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
TOP 10 and GENERAL CLASSIFICATION 1. Geraint Thomas (Sky) @ 16:04 2. Stefan Kung (BMC) + 0:05 3. Vasili Kiryienka (Sky) + 0:07 4. Tony Martin (Katusha) + 0:08 5. Matteo Trentin (Quick Step) + 0:10 6. Chris Froome (Sky) + 0:12 7. Jos Van Emden (Lotto Jumbo) + 0:15 8. Michal Kwiatkowski (Sky) + 0:15 9. Marcel Kittel (Quick Step) + 0:16 10. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) + 0:16
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, the old saying that you can't win the Tour de France on Stage 1, but you can lose it rings true today. Alejandro Valverde overshot a corner, hit a fence and has been taken to hospital with a potentially fractured leg or ankle. Really tough break for the Spaniard, his leader Nairo Quintana and Movistar.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, Geraint Thomas has come from nowhere and beaten all of the Time trialists to take Stage 1 and the first yellow jersey! What an effort. 3 Sky riders in the top ten.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The time of Geraint Thomas goes past, so he will win Stage 1 of the Tour de France and slip into the yellow jersey. Froome meanwhile, has come to the line at 16:16, putting him in fourth and holding a 30-40 second advantage over most of the GC riders.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The French time trial champion Pierre Latour comes over in 16:29, putting him in 16th place. Not a bad ride. Froome the only man left on course.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Nairo Quintana coming up to the line now. He will just beat the 17 minute mark, finishing with a very similar time to that of Contador and Aru - in fact, about five seconds ahead of them.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Contador the next man to finish and he will be inside 17 minutes, but just outside the time of Richie Porte. Not a bad ride from the Spaniard.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Stefan Kung comes through in 16:09. He is just a couple of seconds behind Thomas, so he should take the stage, unless Froome pulls off an incredible second half.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fabio Aru will just come inside the 17 minute barrier. Breaks it by 3 seconds.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Chris Froome through the check point just 9 seconds behind.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Nairo Quintana through all the corners, and he is onto the final 4-kilometre stretch.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kung has gone through the time check only a second behind Tony Martin, and slightly faster than Thomas. He has 4 km to go.
Scott Pryde
Expert
So then, it's almost a safe bet that Thomas will win the time trial and first yellow jersey. Chris Froome still on course, as is King but they are going to have to fly. Marcel Kittell has just stopped the clock about 18 seconds down as well. Great effort.
Scott Pryde
Expert
This is right down to the wire, but he isn't going to get there! The time goes past. Geraint Thomas stays in the hot seat as Martin stops the clock at 16:12. Didn't expect Martin to fade in the second half of the course.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Tony Martin into the final kilometre, and he should get there.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Quite a good ride from Michael Matthews. The Australian is just 16 seconds off the pace, in the top ten currently.
Scott Pryde
Expert
More news on Valverde. He is in an ambulance, heading to hospital with a possible leg fracture. What a shame. What an absolute shame.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Chris Froome is away! They can pack up the start house, every rider has left. Will Froome pull on yellow? Looked to be a good start down the slippery ramp.