Tour de France Tour de France 2025, Stage 1: Lille – Lille (184.9k)

[ppanther92]

I saw an replay again now, and Bora riding a leadout for the sprint for 39th, while not riding before, losing it (42th), while both GC riders are in the same group and losing time - is almost an all-time level of pathetic.

And Aldags interview, well, was also special.

 

[hayneplane]

Chapeau to Jonas, firstly the cheeky snaffling of the final KOM, and then being the prime instigator of the crosswind chaos.

Sets up a hilly stage 2 very nicely with lots of puncheur types several minutes down and more likely to be willing to try and get in the break.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Kuss, Yates and Yates were milling around at the back all day looking disinterested and lost lots of time. Almeida/Jorgenson the secondary GC guys as expected, Jorgenson gains 39 seconds.

 

[KZD]

Glad that we had the echelons, it made for a more interesting and safer stage even though we still lost two riders.

Phlipsen looking superb, some people may think he is overrated but when the Tour comes he rarely misses. Getting a head start for green as well. Disappointed with Milan and Merlier for not making the front echelon, not the first time Milan gets caught out in echelons.

Visma once again showed that for these flat, rolling stages they are the strongest team, always surrounding Vingegaard. Wellens doing some great work for Pogacar. Out of the GC riders that lost time, I am mostly disappointed with Remco that had a very good chance of taking yellow in the stage 5 TT but after losing 39 seconds and with two hilly stages until then, I think he will have a hard time.

 

[Sciatic]

No

I doubt he’ll be doing any significant work till Week 3.

 

[scribers]

Can you imagine if a griz attack ends it for Chris!!!

Grizzly contract sponsored by IPT!

 

[staubsauger]

It's pretty clear nobody believes in beating Vingegaard or Pogacar, which is part the reason the chase is a complete clown show.

Then again, someone like Gall could take inspiration from Fortunato at the Giro d'Italia and collect an early lead for the polka dots jersey!

 

[Rob5091]

Well done by Alpercin - Roglic & Remco? Oh, deary dear ... At least Remco should be a solid fav for the ITT with Ganna gone. The Battle of the Lennys seems to be over on day 1.
Intermarche will be glad for Girmay's 2nd and UCI points.

 

[Cycling111]

It's not just the teams' fault. Pogacar is positioned alone most of the time.
Remco and Roglic were barely visible in front.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Then again, someone like Gall could take inspiration from Fortunato at the Giro d'Italia and collect an early lead for the polka dots jersey!

The problem is that there are hardly any points available on the first climbs in the Tour.

 

[Unchained]

If Lipowitz was Bora plan B, he better call Pog and Jonas and ask for @39 seconds back..

 

[Rackham]

If Lipowitz was Bora plan B, he better call Pog and Jonas and ask for @39 seconds back..

They left Lipowitz chase for many km's back onto the peloton after his mechanical. It was nothing for Lipo today.

I saw an replay again now, and Bora riding a leadout for the sprint for 39th, while not riding before, losing it (42th), while both GC riders are in the same group and losing time - is almost an all-time level of pathetic.

And Aldags interview, well, was also special.

What did he say? I've heard Denk said some strange things as well (according to a German social media account).

 

[staubsauger]

The problem is that there are hardly any points available on the first climbs in the Tour.

Yup. Apart from stage 10 when someone like Martinez is healthy again and still in the race until then.

That said. If Evenepoel struggles this year like he did in the Ardennes classics and Bora doesn't get their act together as well Gall in particular suddenly has a shot at the podium against Rodriguez, Mas and Almeida.

We're not there yet of course. But it doesn't sound as unrealistic as it would have in January at this point of the year.

 

[tobydawq]

I saw an replay again now, and Bora riding a leadout for the sprint for 39th, while not riding before, losing it (42th), while both GC riders are in the same group and losing time - is almost an all-time level of pathetic.

And Aldags interview, well, was also special.

Definitely pathetic. Pithie, Moscon and Van Dijke (and Cattaneo) all finished between the second group and the big group behind which indicates that they in fact did pull, but they should also have had Van Poppel, Meeus, Merlier and Van Lerberghe pulling.

Amateur hour from both teams.

 

[Cycling111]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1941528539762917516

View: https://x.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1941528539762917516

 

[ppanther92]

They left Lipowitz chase for many km's back onto the peloton after his mechanical. It was nothing for Lipo today.

What did he say? I've heard Denk said some strange things as well (according to a German social media account).

To the Lipowitz chase: they decided its better to not send helpers back as the caravan shields a rider better than teammates could.

And for the positioning and chasing after the split: they decided with all their known weaknesses to rather play it save (I fail to say how not contributing to the chase is save but that wad not asked by the interviewer)

 

[Unchained]

It's not just the teams' fault. Pogacar is positioned alone most of the time.
Remco and Roglic were barely visible in front.

Pogacar had big Belgian wind block for significant time..
And whatever Remco and company had planned for Tim Melier( I love the guy!) He didn't look too snappy today. Bora just needs a complete restart, they needed everything to go right and nothing did, Roglic and Lipowitz caught napping. Vingegaard riding very aggressive to stay out of trouble and not miss a selection if it happened. Sad, costly mistakes..and who was Jordi Meeus , Danny Van Poppel..not watching? Director needs to get these guys an extra coffee for next @9 days!! Can't miss everything!!

 

[Unchained]

Who was the rider who's rear deraileur fell off?

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Looking back, coming into the RH bend where they turned into the crosswinds and Visma hit it, Quickstep were a mile back - not in the first 100 riders. They gave themselves no chance. Mas was in 4th wheel at that point so no excuse for anyone not to be there.

 

[Gratemans]

Wow. A lot of pretty wild reactions on here. There's still 20 days of racing to go people, 45 seconds or whatever hardly means anything.
That being said, I just love echelons.
And I kinda feel sorry for QS. Old school QS would never have missed this one. They actually would have been the instigators, along with Visma.

Anyway, pretty entertaining first stage. And thank god for no mass crashes.
(But sad to see Ganna drop out 🙁)

 

[Lequack]

So, I guess the Tour is over after one stage. At least for the 1st and 2nd place. Basically apart from the already two biggest favorites, everyone lost 40 seconds.

 

[Brullnux]

Wow. A lot of pretty wild reactions on here. There's still 20 days of racing to go people, 45 seconds or whatever hardly means anything.
That being said, I just love echelons.
And I kinda feel sorry for QS. Old school QS would never have missed this one. They actually would have been the instigators, along with Visma.

Anyway, pretty entertaining first stage. And thank god for no mass crashes.
(But sad to see Ganna drop out 🙁)

Yeah, if it were 45 seconds to Pogacar and Vingegaard. It just sets the tone for a Tour where 3rd place is finishing like 10 minutes back.

I agree though, it's not a huge deal as the rest aren't in a fight with Pogacar and Vingegaard.

 

[Rackham]

So, I guess the Tour is over after one stage. At least for the 1st and 2nd place. Basically apart from the already two biggest favorites, everyone lost 40 seconds.

Enric Mas is gonna stealth his way to a TdF win.

 

[kingjr]

Yeah, if it were 45 seconds to Pogacar and Vingegaard. It just sets the tone for a Tour where 3rd place is finishing like 10 minutes back.

I agree though, it's not a huge deal as the rest aren't in a fight with Pogacar and Vingegaard.

I think the Dauphiné already took care of that.

 

[staubsauger]

Yeah, if it were 45 seconds to Pogacar and Vingegaard. It just sets the tone for a Tour where 3rd place is finishing like 10 minutes back.

I agree though, it's not a huge deal as the rest aren't in a fight with Pogacar and Vingegaard.

The question is whether they race out that 3rd place or if it ends up like the podium fight at the 2024 Giro d'Italia!

Also gives the chance for a Rasmussen / Virenque like breakaway win towards La Plagne if UAE & Visma aren't interested in controlling anything anymore.

Just look at the 1994 Tour de France that also started in Lille. Great fight between Pantani, LeBlanc & Virenque for the podium with Ugrumov emerging in between.