In the opening stage of the Tour de France 2024, French climber Romain Bardet claimed the yellow jersey with a late escape on a challenging route from Florence, Italy, to Rimini. The searing heat made it a tough day for the peloton, with many riders suffering, including British sprinter Mark Cavendish who trailed by 30 minutes.
Bardet’s victory was made possible by his teammate Frank Van Den Broek, with whom he survived a reel-in effort from the peloton. Bardet expressed gratitude to his teammate for their successful collaboration on a day that saw them cross the finish line ahead of all the main contenders for the Tour title.
The 33-year-old Bardet, who has previously finished second and third on the Tour, was elated to finally wear the yellow jersey. His closest rivals after Stage 1 are Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel, both at 15 seconds behind Bardet due to time bonuses.
While the hills of Tuscany provided stunning scenery, the riders had to battle not only the heat but also seven challenging ascents. Cavendish, chasing a record 35th Tour de France stage win, faced struggles but managed to make the time cut. Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard and top contender Pogacar also had strong showings on the opening stage.
The 2024 Tour de France is shaping up to be a four-way battle, with other contenders like Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel waiting for their chance to shine. As the race continues through Italy and eventually ends in Nice, France, fans can expect more thrilling action and intense competition.
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