Bardet wins hot and hilly opening Tour de France stage in Italy while Cavendish struggles
RIMINI, Italy (AP) — Two-time podium finisher Romain Bardet won the opening stage of the Tour de France and claimed the yellow jersey on Saturday as cycling’s biggest race began in Italy for the first time.
Combined with severe heat, one of the most challenging opening legs in recent memory created problems for Mark Cavendish and many other riders.
Tadej Pogacar, who is aiming to follow up his Giro d’Italia title with a third Tour trophy, and two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard both finished safely in the main pack, though.
Vingegaard’s performance was especially encouraging, considering he was hospitalized for nearly two weeks in April following a high-speed crash in the Tour of the Basque Country. He sustained a broken collarbone and ribs and a collapsed lung and had not raced since.