Our usual column that takes stock of the day just ended at Tour de France 2024.
- Romain Bardet (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL): He had already won other stages at the Tour in the past, but had never managed to wear the Yellow Jersey: he did it today, right in the opening stage of his last Grande Boucle. The transalpine climber runs instinctively, goes on the attack with 50 kilometers to go and, thanks to the help of an inexhaustible Van Den Broek, goes on to take this splendid career award
- Frank Van Den Broek (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL): His name, although written differently, can only bring to the minds of cycling enthusiasts that of a Belgian champion who left us too soon. But it is certain that from today many will also remember him: on the run from the initial stages, the 23-year-old manages himself very well and, when he is reached by Bardet, he has the energy to help his teammate (indeed, in the final it even seems have more than the Frenchman) and to reach the finish line with him, deservedly receiving the thanks of his captain and the fighter of the day award.
- Wout Van Aert (Visma|Lease a Bike): His team wakes up a little late in the chase to the leaders and this probably costs the Belgian his first Yellow Jersey, who wins the sprint for third place ahead of Pogacar (also taking away his 4″ bonus). Considering the injury he is recovering from and his condition not being 100%, it was not a given that he would be able to keep up with the best; the result therefore gives hope for the rest of the Tour.
- EF Education-EasyPost: The American team’s tactics may need to be reviewed a little. They are practically the first to decisively start chasing the escapees, then they step aside and try to send Ben Healy on the attack, but he moves a moment too late and is unable to catch up with Bardet. The Irishman stays halfway for a long time before being called back to lend a hand in the chase, but in the end this move proves to be too late and, in any case, does not allow them to break away from those riders faster than Bettiol.
- Visma | Lease a Bike: They show up at the head of the group approaching the last 50 kilometres, but there is no real change of pace, so much so that the attackers later return to gaining something. Only in the final they put a couple of men to collaborate with EF and Lidl-Trek to close on Bardet and Van Den Broek, but in the end it is not enough and they thus waste a good opportunity to immediately leave their mark, as Van Aert wins the sprint of the beaten ones.
- David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ): It’s true that his approach to the Tour hasn’t been ideal, given that he contracted Covid last week, but taking almost half an hour in the first stage and, consequently, immediately dropping out of the rankings is certainly not a good thing signal. After the good performances in the edition two years ago, the Frenchman is a bit lost: will he be able to find himself, at least partially, in this Tour, perhaps chasing a stage success?
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