Stage 1 : 🚩Düsseldorf > Düsseldorf 🏁
🚴 14 km
Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) (Getty Images Sport)
First stage of #TDF2017 today started in Düsseldorf, Germany, a time trial where the riders have to give their maximum effort to beat the clock. Hiding from the drag behind another cyclist to save energy is not allowed, (i.e. drafting).
This is a one man's flat out full power effort, the real value of an individual cyclist is shown in this type of races. They are my favourite type of riding where you go flat out to beat the clock! Awesome! :)
Today Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) put in stunning performance to win the opening time trial of the Tour de France, covering the 14km in Düsseldorf course in a time of 16min:04s, that's an average speed of over 52km/h, taking the first leader's yellow jersey.
Second place goes to Stefan Küng (Racing Team) taking a an extra 5 seconds to complete the course, 3rd place to Vasil Kiryienka (Team Sky) +7s.
Team Sky Starting off strong placing four riders in the top 10.
| Pos. | Rider Name | (Country) | Team | Result | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geraint Thomas | (GBr) | Team Sky | 0:16:04 | |
| 2 | Stefan Küng | (Swi) | BMC Racing Team | 0:16:09 | +0:00:05 |
| 3 | Vasil Kiryienka | (Blr) | Team Sky | 0:16:11 | +0:00:07 |
| 4 | Tony Martin | (Ger) | Katusha-Alpecin | 0:16:12 | +0:00:08 |
| 5 | Matteo Trentin | (Ita) | Quick-Step Floors | 0:16:14 | +0:00:10 |
| 6 | Christopher Froome | (GBr) | Team Sky | 0:16:16 | +0:00:12 |
| 7 | Jos Van Emden | (Ned) | Team LottoNl-Jumbo | 0:16:19 | +0:00:15 |
| 8 | Michal Kwiatkowski | (Pol) | Team Sky | 0:16:19 | +0:00:15 |
| 9 | Marcel Kittel | (Ger) | Quick-Step Floors | 0:16:20 | +0:00:16 |
| 10 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | (Nor) | Dimension Data | 0:16:20 | +0:00:16 |
Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) took 50 seconds more to complete the race.
Nairo Quintana (Movistar team) +48 seconds. (3rd place in 2016)
Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) +51 seconds. (2nd place in 2016)
Looks like the race is set in favour of last years winner Froome, great performance and great shape.
Only 14 km raced from the 3540, so there is much to see until July 23. Who are our favourites riders? Who do you think will win?
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