TdF stage 1 Barcelona: Visma’s killer ride

 

New TTT rules for the Tour de France:

Instead of being judged from the fourth rider to cross the line, times will be taken according to each individual, with the stage win going to the team with the fastest finishing rider. 

Team Visma Lease a Bike’s strong team time trial in Barcelona places Jonas Vingegaard in yellow. Visma beat Netcompany INEOS by 7.33 seconds, with Viengegaard finishing off the ride at the Olympic Stadium  after Matteo Jorgenson and Davide Piganzoli helped launched the Dane through the Montjuic finale.

“The goal is to have this jersey in Paris, but it is a really nice way to start this Tour de France, to already have a stage victory and wear the yellow jersey. From here, we can go on.”

-Marc Reef DS

“It is the biggest race of the world, it’s an amazing victory for us. Especially when it’s a team time-trial, I have seven guys who have sacrificed for me today. It’s not just me wearing yellow, they also won the stage today and we have to really enjoy this. 

I would say everything went as planned, we had this tactic and it paid off in the end.

There’s a long way left. We have a small gap now, but this is the perfect start. I couldn’t dream of a better start.”

-Jonas Vinegaard