Cycling: Yves Lampaert surprisingly won the start of the 2022 Tour de France. The Belgian was five seconds faster than compatriot Wout van Aert in rainy Copenhagen with a time of 15:18. So he will start tomorrow in the yellow jersey. Tadej Pogacar should also be satisfied. Last year's Slovenian winner set the best time of all contenders for overall victory.
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Lampaert shocks the time trial elite
Nobody expected Yves Lampaert (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) to win the opening time trial in Copenhagen. The Belgian left the entire time trial elite behind on the 13,2-kilometer course through the Danish capital. He benefited from the slightly easing rain, which characterized the entire time trial and caused several crashes. Initially, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin – Deceuninck) set the fastest time . The Dutchman thrived in the tight corners and the adverse conditions. But when the rain subsided, he had to relinquish the lead. The fastest times tumbled. Next up was Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers). But the world champion didn't even get a chance to take the seat, as Wout van Aert (Jumbo – Visma) was immediately faster behind him . Just when everyone thought the winner was decided, Yves Lampaert 's moment arrived . The Belgian was almost five seconds faster. Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) would probably have had a chance of winning as well. However, the Frenchman crashed after setting the fastest time in the first sector.
Pogacar and Vingegaard faster than Roglic
Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) not only had to swallow a thrashing from Tadej Pogačar (UAE) today, but also lost the intra-team battle against Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma). Of course, 25 hundredths of a second isn't worth mentioning – and the nine seconds to Pogačar aren't earth-shattering either – but the Critérium du Dauphiné winner had actually wanted to gain time on his rivals in the time trial. After all, Roglič was faster than many other podium contenders. Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) was ten seconds behind him, and Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) was 16.
Not a good day for the Swiss
The two Swiss riders, Stefan Bissegger (EF Education – EasyPost) and Stefan Küng (Groupama – FDJ), certainly had a different start to the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in mind. Starting early – like most of the favorites – they struggled with the weather conditions. Stefan Bissegger crashed twice and therefore had no chance of a good placing. European champion Stefan Küng managed to stay on his bike, but his time was also out of reach. The time trial in Copenhagen was probably too short and too technical for him. The German professionals also failed to deliver their best performances today. Lennard Kämna (Bora – hansgrohe) was the fastest German, posting a time of 15:42. Jonas Rutsch (EF Education – EasyPost) was unlucky . The German also crashed and, according to initial reports, suffered very painful injuries.
Hardly anyone expected this: @yveslampaert dethrones his compatriot! #TDF2022 pic.twitter.com/EZ9cpuXaAB
— Tour de France – DE (@letour_de) July 1, 2022