The Tour de France took off on Saturday with a grueling first stage for the 176 cyclists starting in Florence, Italy. Of the lot, Quebecers Hugo Houle and Guillaume Boivin, from the Israel – Premier Tech team, are respectively making their sixth and fourth appearance at the Grande Boucle.
Posted at 12:36 p.m.
Updated at 3:16 p.m.
“It was extremely difficult with all the climbs, but the heat was also a big factor. It felt like a big electroshock [samedi]. We are tired, I have a little headache, but we will adapt for the future,” said Hugo Houle from the outset.
Frenchman Romain Bardet (dsm-firmenich PostNL) and his Dutch teammate Frank Van Den Broek led the race for the last 50 kilometers, resisting the peloton’s push in the final meters to take the double. It was Bardet who crossed the finish line in first place to sign the fourth stage victory of his career at the Tour de France. Bardet had announced that he was participating in his last Tour this year.
PHOTO THOMAS SAMSON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Romain Bardet
As for Van Den Broek, he entered the breakaway at the very start of the day and survived until the end, winning the title of most combative rider of the day after 189.5 kilometers at the front.
The Belgian Wout Van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) won the sprint for third place (+5 seconds) ahead of the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates).
In the peloton, Hugo Houle was able to work alongside his Ontario teammate Derek Gee who finally took 17e rank of this first stage, in the group led by Van Aert.
“It went very well on my side, I was able to accompany Derek very far in the climbs and I dropped back when I reached my limit. I admit that it was quite demanding with the heat today, but the work is done. Derek finished in the first group, which is excellent, that will be my role in the mountain stages as long as he is in the running,” explained the Quebecer.
Although he is now a regular at the Tour de France, Houle, who finished 84the of the day, admits that he is still excited about participating in the event.
It’s always a privilege to be at the Tour and to be part of it. The atmosphere and the energy are incredible and I want to make the most of it. It was a tough start, but I’m happy to be here.
Hugo Houle
For his part, Guillaume Boivin will be used more in the stages on the flat, notably in the company of the German Pascal Ackermann. The Quebecer ranked 138e of this first step.
The Tour will remain in Italy for the second stage on Sunday when cyclists will cover 199.2 kilometers between Cesenatico and Bologna.
Simone Boilard falls at the Tour of Thuringia
Earlier this week, Simone Boilard (Uno-X Mobility) was in action at the Tour of Thuringia, in Germany. After a few kilometers in a breakaway at the end of the race on Wednesday, the Quebecer was involved in a heavy fall with the Luxembourger Marie Schreiber (SD Worx – Protime) 500 meters from the finish line.
Injured in the arms, Boilard had to withdraw from the rest of the Tour.
Before his fall in the second stage, the 23-year-old athlete had won an intermediate sprint on the same day.
The sixth and final stage of the Tour of Thuringia will take place on Sunday.
