We expected a first royal sprint on this 1st stage of the Renewi Tourand we were not disappointed this Wednesday. In a very nervous final marked by numerous falls, and at the end of a last kilometer in slight ascent at Bilzen, Jonathan Milan et Jasper Philipsen a superb duel took place, won by the sprinter of the Lidl-Trek ! After a huge launch of Mathieu van der Poelthe Italian sprinter showed his characteristic power from afar and resisted the Belgian’s comeback until the end.Alpecin-Deceuninckwho was never able to catch up with his rival. Perfectly placed, Axel Zingle (Cofidis) took advantage of this atypical sprint to sign a very nice podium. In full swing following his hat-trick on the Tour of Germany, Jonathan Milan continues the excellent dynamic of the Lidl-Trek at the end of this summer!
Video – Relive the finale of this 1st stage… and its falls
All Dutch sprinters crashed in the final… Merlier finally downgraded
Arriving 4th and 5th respectively, Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) et Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco-AlUla) collided just as they were crossing the line and fell heavily. The Belgian was subsequently downgraded by the jury of commissaires, allowing a good Paul Thirst (Groupama-FDJ) to enter the top 5. Merlier et Greenwayswell hit, are far from being the only ones to have been on the ground, Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike) et Fabio Jakobsen (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) having also been caught in big falls a little further from the finish. Bad day for the Batavian racing cars, whose physical condition will have to be closely monitored this evening to see if they will be able to continue in this 19th edition.
The detailed summary
After a rather calm first hour of racing, five men decided to create the breakaway of the day. At the front we find Ceriel Desal, Loïc Flying (Bingoal WB), Lars Craps (Flanders Baloise), Axel Huens et Jordy Bouts (TDT-Unibet). Behind, there are the formations Alpecin-Deceuninck of Jasper Philipsen, Visma | Lease a Bike d’Olav Kooij et Soudal Quick-Step of Tim Merlier who control. But the fugitives put up resistance and even took the lead during the “Green” Kilometer, just over 30 km from the finish. The Frenchman Axel Huens is the one who makes the best operation, since he seizes 6 bonus seconds. The breakaway is finally caught about fifteen kilometers away, just before a big fall occurs at the head of the peloton.
Some riders are very affected, like one of the favorites of the day, Olav Kooij. The young Dutch sprinter from the Visma | Lease a Bike lays on the grass on the side of the road for a while and seems dazed. But the race does not wait and the final remains very nervous with the many sprinters present on the race who try to position themselves with their respective trains. But there is not room for everyone, and it rubs hard in the last kilometers. After a hairpin under the red flame, Lidl-Trek et Alpecin-Deceuninck take the controls, and it’s the world champion himself Mathieu van der Poel who launches the sprint perfectly… for Jonathan Milan. Wedged in the wheel of the Italian, who throws from very far, Jasper Philipsen seems well placed to dislodge him but ends up bowing to the power of Milanuntouchable at the moment.
