Yves Lampaert of Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl has sprung a surprise to win stage one of the Tour de France - a 13.2km individual time trial at Copenhagen - finishing five seconds ahead of pre-stage favourite and fellow Belgian Wout van Aert.
Lampaert finished with a time of 15m 17s in rainy conditions that slowed several riders. Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, who is targeting his third consecutive Tour de France title, finished seven seconds behind in third.
"I have beaten the great Wout van Aert," said Lampaert. "It's incredible - I never expected that.
"For now, I don't understand. It's the Tour de France, the best riders have completed the course and I'm in the lead."
Copenhagen is known as the world's most bike-friendly city, but the stage was anything but, as rain led to slippery conditions - especially on the cobblestones - where a couple of riders crashed.
Dutch national champion Bauke Mollema set the early pace, but was quickly dislodged from the top by compatriot Mathieu van der Poel.
Olympic time trial champion Primoz Roglic was three seconds slower than Van der Poel, as the Slovenian opted to avoid taking risks on treacherous corners, as conditions worsened.
Van Aert, who was behind the pace at the intermediate point, then stormed into the lead, when he passed the finish.
Lampaert was also two seconds behind at the intermediate point, but picked up the pace, as the roads began to dry to top the time sheets, as Van Aert looked on impressed.
"Yves is a specialist on short time trials and I'm happy for him," said Van Aert, who experienced knee pains before the race. "Today was okay, I didn't feel any pain, it's good, but it's still a disappointment to finish second."
Former winner Geraint Thomas was 25 seconds behind and the Ineos Grenadiers rider was slowed down, after forgetting to remove his warm-up vest on the startline.
"I zipped it up, it was nice and snug - and I didn't realise," he said. "The guy at the start didn't notice, not that it was his fault.
"Once I went through that time check and I was 18 seconds down at the checkpoint, then I just took the pin out."
Veteran Jack Bauer was the leading Kiwi in 62nd, 54 seconds behind the leader, while George Bennett, who will ride in support of Pogacar, finished 156th, 1m 47s back.
The Tour was thrown under a cloud, when authorities searched the vehicles and rooms of Bahrain Victorious team staff and riders, as French prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation into doping allegations.
Their homes were also searched by police before their departure for the Tour.
Saturday's stage two is a 202.2 km flat stage from Roskilde to Nyborg.
Reuters
