Key moments

Crécy-en-Ponthieu – Guise. 179 kilometres. Official start at 1:05 for 141 riders. Siedler sprints to victory after an extremely fast stage 1 all the way from Crecy-en-Ponthieu to Guise. He therefore takes command of the overall classification and confirms that this year again, one will have to count on the sprinters.

The battle for bonus seconds
The stage takes off at a very fast pace. Several attacks occur at the front but on each occasion the pack reacts convincingly. No-one therefore manages to break away and the pack makes it bunched at the bottom of the first climb up the Côte de Naours (km 43,5). At the top, Hivert (C.A) leads the pack ahead of Moos (BMC) and Tombak (MIT). At kilometre 61,5, Hunter (Bar) the title-holder makes it first to the line of the first intermediate sprint, outsprinting Chavanel (Fdj) and Casper (AGR). The battle for bonus seconds, often decisive for final victory has started.

Late break
The bunched pack continues its progression at a fairly high pace through Picardie. After two hours of racing, 98 kilometres are covered. At kilometre 102, Cédric Pineau (ALM) finally manages to take off alone. He can enjoy a maximum 2’40 lead at kilometre 135. Just under ten kilometres later, D’Hollander (SIL) and Eeckhout (TSV) break away on a counter-attack and slowly move closer to the front man. D’Hollander eventually stops his effort and is caught by the pack. With 25 kilometres remaining, Eeckhout catches up with Pineau. Both men have a 25’’ lead over the pack, led by the Barloworld team. One kilometre before the second bonus sprint competed at the first passage on the finish line, the two leaders keep a 10 seconds advantage. On the line, Eeckhout beats Pineau and Scheirlinckx (COF), just before the pack bunches up together again.

Siedler sprints to victory
The last loop around Guise is covered at full speed. In the climb up the Côte de Lesquielles-Saint-Germain (km 165), several attacks take place. Moos finally makes it first to the top ahead of Hivert and Tombak in the leading positions of the pack. The pace eases up even more in the last ten kilometres of the stage and a bunched sprint can be expected. Under the final kilometre mark, the pack is led by the Cofidis and Barloword teams. With 300 metres to go, a fall occurs around the 20th position of the pack sending quite a few riders to the ground and reducing the number of candidates for victory. Blain (COF) then launches the sprint but also hits the ground. Siedler (SKS) finally captures victory ahead of De Haes (TSV) and Chavanel (Fdj).

Siedler therefore captures both the green and yellow jerseys (overall and points standing). Moos grabs the best climber’s polka dot jersey.

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Sebastian Siedler (SKS), winner of stage 1: “The last loop was extremely tense. Several riders tried to break away but my team controlled. Concerning the sprint, I stayed in the wheel of Casper before producing my effort with 150 metres to go. It’s an important victory, the first of my season after several good positions (3rd of a stage at the 4 Days of Dunkirk). I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep the yellow jersey but I’ll give all I have to do so…”

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