Premiere at the Tour de France: twins win

Adam was four seconds ahead of Simon, with two-time Tour winner Tadej Pogacar sprinting to third (+12sec).Bilbao. That was important in relation to defending champion Jonas Vingegaard, who was ninth at the same time. However, four bonus seconds for third place went to Pogacar. After his fall at Liège-Bastogne-Liège in April, he showed in the first comparison with the best since then that he has to be reckoned with again.

“I don’t know what to say,” said Adam Yates, but immediately made it clear that his captain Pogacar is the boss. “When my brother came, I didn’t know if I could work with him. I asked on the radio and they said ‘go for it’,” he said in an interview with “Eurosport”.

Felix Großschartner led for a short time

For a short time, Pogacar helper Felix Großschartner had also led the field about 11 kilometers from the finish, but when he pulled away a little, he was replaced by Yates. In doing so, he adhered exactly to the requirement that he had explained to the APA before the tour: “I’m the one who sets the pace up to the last mountain when there are difficult stages. For the absolute final we have Adam and Rafa, I’ll do the work before that with Marc Soler, that’s the plan.” This plan worked out excellently right from the first part.

The race had long been dominated by a breakaway group of five, but in the end the stars prevailed. However, not all. With just under 20 kilometers to go, three riders crashed, including the two overall podium contenders Richard Carapaz (EF Education) and Enric Mas (Movistar). Carapaz, who came third in the 2021 tour, was able to get back on the bike, but crossed the finish line with a long delay and a pained face. For Mas, the Spanish captain in Gregor Mühlberger’s team, the race is over after the first day. Severe pain in his right shoulder forced him to give up and he then had to go to the hospital.

Of the six Austrians, Felix Gall (AGR2) ended up furthest ahead in 36th (+ 33 seconds), Großschartner was 44th (+1:19), Patrick Konrad (Bora) 60th.

On Sunday, the tour guest appearance in Spain will continue with the 2nd stage over 208.9 kilometers from Vitoria-Gasteiz to San Sebastian. Even then, five mountain classifications are waiting, which will suit the classic specialists. It is the longest stage of the entire tour, the start of the tour has it all before the first few meters in France.