Lampaert shocks by winning first stage of the Tour de France

Stage one of the Tour de France, a 13.2 km individual time trial in Copenhagen, was won by Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl’s Yves Lampaert, who finished five seconds ahead of fellow Belgian and pre-stage favorite Wout van Aert.

Lampaert finished in 15 minutes and 17 seconds despite the rain slowing down several other riders. Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia, who is vying for his third straight Tour de France victory, came in third place after finishing seven seconds later.

Lampaert declared, “I have defeated the great Wout van Aert.”

It’s amazing; I never anticipated that. I don’t understand right now. I’m in the lead after the best cyclists have finished the Tour de France.

Copenhagen is renowned as the bike-friendliest city in the world, but the stage was anything but because of the rain and slick conditions it caused, especially on the cobblestones, where a few riders crashed.

National champion of the Netherlands Bauke Mollema set the early pace but was swiftly passed by fellow countryman Mathieu van der Poel.

Olympic time trial champion Primoz Roglic finished three seconds behind Van van Poel because the Slovenian chose to take it easy on dangerous curves as the weather got worse.