Superb Kristoff Seals Stage 1 Win of Tour De France

• The Norwegian outsprinted everyone to give the UAE Team Emirates their first ever yellow jersey

• Valerio Conti wins Trofeo Matteotti

 

 

United Arab Emirates, August 30, 2020:   Alexander Kristoff was the fastest in the first stage of the Tour de France, hitting a fantastic double with a stage victory and sealing the yellow jersey.

 

The 156 km of the inaugural stage of the Gran Boucle were characterized by numerous crashes due to the heavy rain that featured throughout the entire race. The group moved cautiously along the descents of the course, only to put the hammer down again in the final 20 km.

 

In Nice, on the final straight, Kristoff unleashed his power with a perfectly timed sprint, where he overtook Mads Pedersen (Trek – Segafredo) and Cees Bol (Team Sunweb).

 

Today’s victory gives UAE Team Emirates their first ever yellow jersey. It will be the first time in yellow also for Kristoff, his fourth career success at the Tour (his last win at the Grand Boucle dates back to the final stage of the 2018 edition).

 

Alexander Kristoff: “It’s a dream to wear the yellow jersey, I don’t think you can ask for anything better. The team came here to aim for the General Classification and some sprint stages. I was hoping, but I didn’t think I would win so early . Today I was riding well and I was able to give my best on the final straight, realizing that I was in the frame for a win. I stayed in the wheels for a while, coming out on the right in the final and, when I realized it was the right moment, I pushed hard. In the past few months I haven’t been able to give my best and I also crashed at the European Championships, so being here celebrating is a great feeling.”

 

Kristoff will face the 186km second stage in yellow, starting and finishing in Nice. The hilly route features the Col de la Colomiane, Col de Turini, Col d’Eze and Col des Quatres Chemins.

 

Stage 1 Results:

1. Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirate) 3h46’23 “

2. Mads Pedersen (Trek – Segafredo) s.t.

3. Cees Bol (Team Sunweb) s.t.

 

General classification after Stage 1:

1. Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirate) 3h46’13 “

2. Mads Pedersen (Trek – Segafredo) @ 4 ″

3. Cees Bol (Team Sunweb) @ 6 ″

 

Also in action yesterday was Valerio Conti who timed his attack to perfection a few kilometres from the finish line to win the Trofeo Matteotti (1.1).

 

The Italian first infiltrated the six-man breakaway that moved away in the last 20 km of the race, then just 6km from the finish Conti launched with a solo attack that allowed him to cross the finish line first in front of Diego Rubio (Burgos BH) and Daniel Savini (Bardiani CSF Faizanè).

 

For Valerio Conti it is his first victory in the UAE Team Emirates jersey and the 21st of the team for the 2020 season.

 

Conti said, “It was a very tough race, with a lot of heat and a lot of uncertainty until the end. I played it smart by attacking just before the last downhill stretch, and managing to maintain the advantage until the finish. I am very happy and I dedicate this victory to my girlfriend, my family and the whole team.”

 

Results:

1. Valerio Conti (UAE Team Emirates) 4h58’07’

2. Diego Rubio (Burgos BH) @1″

3. Daniel Savini (Bardiani CSF Faizanè) @4″