Safe passage through sweltering TDF opener

The INEOS Grenadiers got their Tour de France campaign off to a strong start, finishing safely following a tough opening stage.

A warm day in Italy saw a reduced peloton following 206 kilometres and seven categorised climbs. The Grenadiers retained numbers at the head of the race throughout, positioning themselves well and ultimately placing five riders in the lead group over the line.

Tom Pidcock led the team home in 11th place, as a pair of DSM-Firmenich team-mates held off the peloton up ahead. Romain Bardet pulled on the race’s opening yellow jersey, ahead of Frank van den Broek.

Egan Bernal finished on Pidcock’s wheel in 12th, with Geraint Thomas, Carlos Rodriguez and Laurens De Plus all finishing in the bunch in Rimini.

Michal Kwiatkowski had got through a lot of work and came home just 11 seconds later. Jonathan Castroviejo and Ben Turner also worked hard for the cause earlier in the stage. 

UAE Team Emirates applied the pressure at various points, thinning out the peloton on the second-category Col de Barbotto. The lead duo began the final run-in with 1:30 over the chasing pack and managed their efforts superbly to hold on by just five seconds.