Photo gallery: 2017 Tour de France, Stage 1
Six weeks after he was forced to abandon the Giro d’Italia while contending for overall victory, Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas is the first race leader of the 2017 Tour de France. Thomas proved fastest over a wet 14km time trial in Düsseldorf, Germany, beating Stefan Küng (BMC Racing) by five seconds. Sky teammate Vasil Kiryienka was third, seven seconds back. Pre-race favorite Tony Martin (Katusha-Alpecin), the world time trial champion competing on home soil, could only finish fourth, eight seconds down.
Defending champion Chris Froome (Team Sky) finished strongest of the GC contenders, 10 seconds behind Thomas but 37 seconds ahead of Simon Yates (Orica-Scott), 47 seconds ahead of Richie Porte (BMC Racing), and 48 seconds ahead of Nairo Quintana (Movistar).
Quintana will likely be more upset by the loss of teammate Alejandro Valverde, who crashed heavily in a slick corner and was forced to abandon with what was later revealed to be a broken left kneecap. Another Spanish GC rider, Jon Izaguirre of Bahrain-Merida, also crashed heavily on the same corner as Valverde and was also forced to abandon.
The 14km lollipop loop along the Rhine River was saturated with rain from early in the day, making the corner-heavy nature of the route a challenge. The wet tarmac added a hugely technical aspect to the normally benign, short effort. Riders took corners tentatively, and several still hit the deck.
Dylan Groenewegen (Lotto-Jumbo), Rick Zabel (Katusha-Alpecin), Nicholas Roche (BMC Racing), Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Soudal), Paddy Bevin (Cannondale-Drapac), George Bennett (LottoNL-Jumbo), and Luke Durbridge (Orica-Scott) were among those to meet the tarmac after sliding out through corners.
Full stage 1 race report, highlight video, and results here.
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- Greetings between countrymen Martin and Kittel.
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- Clouds and rain- the prominent weather of the day.
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- World Champion Tony Martin’s backup atop the Katusha-Alpecin team car, ready to go at a moment’s notice.
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- Veteran Matthew Hayman during warmup. We wonder what’s flowing through those headphones.
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- The starthouse is a great place to contemplate the pain to which you’re about to subject yourself.
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- Adrien Petit cuts through the deluge.
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- Orica-Scott’s GC hopeful Esteban Chaves looking happy as always
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- Daryl Impey prepping the engine for what’s about to come.
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- Every rider’s warm-up routine is different.
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- Nils Politt of Katusha-Alpecin recovers from his agonizing effort.
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- Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) appears satisfied with his day.
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- A dry moment of respite for Romain Bardet.
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- Vasil Kiryienka spins his legs pre-race.
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- Taylor Phinney’s ride was good enough for 12th on the day, 17 seconds back from yellow.
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- Reigning World Champion Tony Martin (Katusha-Alpecin) discusses his missed opportunity.
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- Luke Durbridge receives a post-race helping hand from a soigneur.
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- Quintana rehydrates. The Columbian GC hope finished in 53rd position, 48 seconds back.
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- Defending champion Chris Froome had a decent day, keeping it upright and finishing sixth, 12 seconds back from his teammate Geraint Thomas.
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- Head lowered and completely spent.
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- An underground refuge from the storm.
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- Richie Porte (BMC) had a disappointing day, finishing in 49th, 47 seconds down.
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- A focused Richie Porte in the starthouse.
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- Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) completely saturated after his effort on the day landed him in 79th position.
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- Esteban Chaves safely negotiated the opening time trial only forfeiting 1:13
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- Tony Martin (Katusha-Alpecin) crosseyed after his fourth place finish.
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- Air intake wide open.
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- Luke Durbridge, considered a favourite for this short ITT had a disappointing start coming in 195th position at 3:01 down after crashing
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- Durbidge’s skinsuit sustained damage in its meeting with the pavement.
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- Durbridge getting checked for injuries after crossing the line. According to the Orica-Scott press release: The 26-year-old fell on his ankle and scans have confirmed he has avoided any broken bones but has identified ligament damage. Durbridge will work with team medical staff in an attempt to try to start stage two with a final decision to be made tomorrow. “Luke has had a fall during today’s time trial. Thankfully there’s no bone damage but he does have some concerns with ligaments,” White explained. “He was going all out for a strong stage result and unfortunately these things can happen. We will monitor the injury overnight and test tomorrow before making a final decision of his ability to start stage two.”
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- Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas is the first race leader of the 2017 Tour de France.
