Alaphilippe takes yellow! A promising start of this Tour!
The next weeks will be spectacular!
What an exploit by Julian Alaphilippe today. Everybody expected him in the sprint uphill in the last 500 meters. But Julian thought otherwise. He jumped out of the peleton on the last climb at about 15 kilometers from the finish with an extraordinary punch. Downhill he took some risks, and the chasing peleton lost at that time around 35 seconds. The finish uphill was no problem for him and he won with 26 seconds before Michael Matthews, Jasper Stuyven and Peter Sagan.
Image source: Photonews
Because Alaphilippe also took 5 seconds of bonification on the last hill, and 10 at the finish, he now has a decent lead in the General Classement, of 20 seconds on the white jersey, Wout Van Aert, who came in 9th today.
Some contenders for the yellow in Paris already lost a few seconds today, like Geraint Thomas and Vincenzo Nibali. Only Bernal and Pinot finished with the first bunch.
This promises for the next weeks, we will get some spectacular racing on different levels. It is very hard to pinpoint a favourite right now. I would say Bernal, but why not Pinot or Bardet... It could go any way!
Sincerely,
Pele23
Cycling races, which test people's endurance.
Interesting tactic he used there. Looking forward to what next week has in store.
He is a joy to watch! Always nervous, always attacking, great style and what a punch!