Tour de France: Rookie Sagan Triumphs on Stage 1

Peter Sagan clinches the first stage (198 km Liege to Seraing) in the 2012 Tour de France on his Tour debut

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Stage one of the 99th Tour de France was from Liège to Seraing and included five categorized climbs, all ranked category 4. As soon racing began, Nicolas Edet attacked and was joined by Morkov (STB), Bouet (ALM), Urtasun (EUS), Delaplace (SAU), Gene (EUC) and by the 11 kilometre mark they had a lead of 3’00” on the peloton.

The best on GC of this group was Morkov who was 51st in the prologue (24” behind Cancellara) and thus he became the virtual yellow jersey on the road. Back down the road however, World TT Champion, Tonyt Martin (OPQ) and Robbie Hunter (GRM) were caught up in a crash and whilst they regained their place in the peloton, Martin was obviously not well and had to go back to the doctor’s car several times.

At the 24km mark, the barriers at a level crossing came down and stopped the escapees for around 45 sconds and their lead of 2’30” was more than halved but with the peloton happy to ride tempo behind the workhorses for Radioshack, the escapees had soon pushed their advantage back up to 3’35”. It wasn’t until around 45k to go with the break in sight, that other teams joined Radioshack at the front and whilst the pace was being pushed higher and higher, a fall caught out Rogers (SKY), Sanchez (RAB) and Rojas (MOV). Just as they remounted, there was another crash in the middle of the peloton that included Valverde (MOV) & Monfort (RNT) but all riders who fell resumed their race after a quick check of their bikes.

Photo: Rob Lampard (Velostars)

The break that had spent a long day out front was finally reeled in with 8km to go and then we saw Lotto-Belisol take control of the peloton. Tucked in behind them were four riders from Orica-GreenEdge. Then, with 3k to go, the first true attack came from Sylvain Chavanel (OPQ) with about 2.5km to go and he was chased down by Albasini (OGE) but their move only served to force the hand of Cancellara who, as he’s done so well before in the Tour of Flanders, bolted into the lead with an impressive surge on the steepest part of the final climb.

He was marked by Sagan (LIQ) and this pair had a solid lead but it wasn’t enough to deter Boasson Hagen (SKY). The Norwegian bridged the gap and in the final 600m, this trio was set to contest the stage win. Cancelllar urged a turn from the others as the peloton closed in quickly on the false flat but Sagan didn’t budge: he only took the lead when he opened up his sprint inside the final 200m. Cancellara tried to hold him off but to no avail… the Liquigas team won the day and the yellow jersey was second over the line.

“I knew it was one of the best chances I’d get” says remarked Sagan. “At the Tour de France, you have to compete against the best riders in top form. I didn’t have the best feeling at the start and it was only as the race progressed that I started to feel better and thought I might have a chance of trying to win. I have to thank the entire team as they got me to the front in the run-in to the finish when the situation wasn’t very easy to manage. First, I thought about going on my own on the decisive final climb then decided to mark Cancellara.”

“My DS’s Zanatta and Scirea advised me in the meeting this morning not to lose his wheel as he would probably attack.”

I’m very happy, also because I was a bit disappointed after yesterday’s prologue; I’d expected something more. Today’s win was a difficult one and it made me understand what’s so special about the Tour compared with other races: so many people at the side of the road cheering you on, journalists from all over the world looking at you, a very high tempo race and you mustn’t ever lose your concentration … well, you can tell straightway that it’s different. Now I mustn’t get carried away with all the excitement. I’ve always planned to race this Tour one day at a time and that’s what I’ll do until we get to Paris. The green jersey? It’s a dream; let’s see if I can make it come true.”

Sagan will have a special bike at the start in Visé tomorrow, created especially by Cannondale to pay tribute to his triumphs: the “Tourminator”. With his first win at the Grande Boucle, Peter Sagan has now racked up a personal record of 14 wins, which brings the season’s score up to 29 for Liquigas-Cannondale.

Stage 1
1 Peter Sagan Liquigas – Cannondale 04:58:19
2 Fabian Cancellara RadioShack – Nissan @ same time
3 Edvald Boasson Hagen Sky Procycling @ same time
4 Philippe Gilbert BMC Racing Team @ same time
5 Bauke Mollema Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
6 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte Movistar Team @ same time
7 Robert Gesink Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
8 Daniel Martin Garmin – Sharp @ same time
9 Ryder Hesjedal Garmin – Sharp @ same time
10 Dries Devenyns Omega Pharma – Quickstep @ same time
11 Jurgen Van Den Broeck Lotto – Belisol Team @ same time
12 Sylvain Chavanel Omega Pharma – Quickstep @ same time
13 Simon Gerrans Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
14 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
15 Vincenzo Nibali Liquigas – Cannondale @ same time
16 Bradley Wiggins Sky Procycling @ same time
17 Janez Brajkovic Astana Pro Team @ same time
18 Nicolas Roche Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
19 Pierre Rolland Europcar @ same time
20 Cadel Evans BMC Racing Team @ same time
21 Tejay Van Garderen BMC Racing Team @ same time
22 Michael Rogers Sky Procycling @ same time
23 Michele Scarponi Lampre – ISD @ same time
24 Mickael Cherel Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
25 Rein Taaramäe Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
26 Kanstantsin Siutsou Sky Procycling @ same time
27 Marco Marcato Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
28 Maxime Monfort RadioShack – Nissan @ same time
29 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
30 Arthur Vichot Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat @ same time
31 Jean-christophe Peraud Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
32 Christian Vande Velde Garmin – Sharp @ same time
33 Tony Martin Omega Pharma – Quickstep @ same time
34 Frank Schleck RadioShack – Nissan @ same time
35 Andr̩as Kl̦den RadioShack РNissan @ same time
36 Ivan Basso Liquigas – Cannondale @ same time
37 Thomas Danielson Garmin – Sharp @ same time
38 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre RadioShack – Nissan @ same time
39 Jelle Vanendert Lotto – Belisol Team @ same time
40 Pieter Weening Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
41 Wout Poels Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
42 Thomas Voeckler Europcar @ same time
43 Vladimir Gusev Katusha Team @ same time
44 Denis Menchov Katusha Team @ same time
45 Dominik Nerz Liquigas – Cannondale @ same time
46 Robert Kiserlovski Astana Pro Team @ same time
47 Koen De Kort Argos-Shimano @ same time
48 Eduard Vorganov Katusha Team @ same time
49 Mikel Astarloza Euskaltel – Euskadi 00:14
50 Michael Albasini Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
51 Lieuwe Westra Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team 00:17
52 Rafael Valls Ferri Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
53 Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa Movistar Team @ same time
54 Levi Leipheimer Omega Pharma – Quickstep @ same time
55 Matthieu Ladagnous Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat @ same time
56 Oscar Gomez Freire Katusha Team 00:21
57 Rob Ruijgh Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
58 Thibaut Pinot Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat 00:23
59 Chris Anker Sorensen Team Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank @ same time
60 Christophe Riblon Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
61 Steven Kruijswijk Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
62 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo Movistar Team @ same time
63 Tony Gallopin RadioShack – Nissan @ same time
64 Andriy Grivko Astana Pro Team @ same time
65 Cyril Gautier Europcar @ same time
66 Giovanni Bernaudeau Europcar @ same time
67 Nick Nuyens Team Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank @ same time
68 Giampaolo Caruso Katusha Team @ same time
69 Yuri Trofimov Katusha Team @ same time
70 Johnny Hoogerland Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
71 J̩rome Coppel Saur РSojasun @ same time
72 Vasil Kiryienka Movistar Team 00:40
73 Egoi Martinez De Esteban Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
74 Dmitriy Fofonov Astana Pro Team 00:45
75 Andrey Kashechkin Astana Pro Team @ same time
76 Jorge Azanza Soto Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
77 Alessandro Petacchi Lampre – ISD @ same time
78 Yann Huguet Argos-Shimano @ same time
79 Ruben Plaza Molina Movistar Team @ same time
80 S̩bastien Hinault Ag2R РLa Mondiale @ same time
81 Danilo Hondo Lampre – ISD 00:55
82 Bram Tankink Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
83 Chris Horner RadioShack – Nissan @ same time
84 Marcus Burghardt BMC Racing Team @ same time
85 Federico Canuti Liquigas – Cannondale 01:05
86 Maxime Bouet Ag2R – La Mondiale 01:16
87 Roy Curvers Argos-Shimano @ same time
88 Fabrice Jeandesboz Saur – Sojasun @ same time
89 Fredrik Kessiakoff Astana Pro Team @ same time
90 Davide Malacarne Europcar @ same time
91 Amaël Moinard BMC Racing Team @ same time
92 Simone Stortoni Lampre – ISD @ same time
93 Johannes Frohlinger Argos-Shimano @ same time
94 Laurens Ten Dam Rabobank Cycling Team 01:20
95 Christopher Froome Sky Procycling 01:25
96 Christophe Kern Europcar @ same time
97 Luis Angel Mate Mardones Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
98 Maxim Iglinskiy Astana Pro Team @ same time
99 Yukiya Arashiro Europcar @ same time
100 Peter Velits Omega Pharma – Quickstep 01:52
101 Sandy Casar Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat 02:02
102 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios Movistar Team 02:07
103 Alessandro Vanotti Liquigas – Cannondale @ same time
104 Cyril Lemoine Saur – Sojasun @ same time
105 Gorka Izagirre Insausti Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
106 Nicki Sørensen Team Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank @ same time
107 Kevin De Weert Omega Pharma – Quickstep @ same time
108 Maarten Wynants Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
109 Kenny Van Hummel Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
110 Imanol Erviti Ollo Movistar Team @ same time
111 Johan Vansummeren Garmin – Sharp @ same time
112 Aleksandr Kuschynski Katusha Team @ same time
113 Kristjan Koren Liquigas – Cannondale @ same time
114 Kris Boeckmans Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
115 Baden Cooke Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
116 C̩dric Pineau Equipe Cycliste FDJ РBigMat @ same time
117 Vincent Jerome Europcar @ same time
118 David Moncouti̩ Cofidis РLe Credit En Ligne @ same time
119 Romain Zingle Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
120 R̩my Di Gregorio Cofidis РLe Credit En Ligne @ same time
121 Yauheni Hutarovich Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat @ same time
122 Anders Lund Team Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank @ same time
123 Yaroslav Popovych RadioShack – Nissan @ same time
124 Jonathan Cantwell Team Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank @ same time
125 Mark Renshaw Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
126 Ruben Perez Moreno Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
127 Sylvester Szmyd Liquigas – Cannondale @ same time
128 Mark Cavendish Sky Procycling @ same time
129 Matthew Goss Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
130 Daryl Impey Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
131 Matthieu Sprick Argos-Shimano @ same time
132 George Hincapie BMC Racing Team @ same time
133 Davide Vigano Lampre – ISD @ same time
134 Daniel Oss Liquigas – Cannondale @ same time
135 Borut Bozic Astana Pro Team @ same time
136 Luca Paolini Katusha Team @ same time
137 Brett Lancaster Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
138 Sebastian Langeveld Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
139 Marco Marzano Lampre – ISD @ same time
140 Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho Team Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank @ same time
141 Karsten Kroon Team Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank @ same time
142 Stuart O’ Grady Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
143 Jens Voigt RadioShack – Nissan 03:01
144 Patrick Gretsch Argos-Shimano @ same time
145 Amets Txurruka Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
146 Bert Grabsch Omega Pharma – Quickstep @ same time
147 J̩r̩my Roy Equipe Cycliste FDJ РBigMat @ same time
148 S̩bastien Minard Ag2R РLa Mondiale @ same time
149 Anthony Delaplace Saur – Sojasun @ same time
150 Jimmy Engoulvent Saur – Sojasun @ same time
151 Michael Schar BMC Racing Team @ same time
152 Brice Feillu Saur – Sojasun @ same time
153 Jurgen Roelandts Lotto – Belisol Team @ same time
154 Adam Hansen Lotto – Belisol Team @ same time
155 David Millar Garmin – Sharp @ same time
156 Pierrick Fedrigo Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat @ same time
157 Tyler Farrar Garmin – Sharp 03:32
158 Robert Hunter Garmin – Sharp @ same time
159 Anthony Roux Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat 03:41
160 Albert Timmer Argos-Shimano @ same time
161 Tom Veelers Argos-Shimano @ same time
162 Richie Porte Sky Procycling @ same time
163 Matthew Lloyd Lampre – ISD @ same time
164 Joan Horrach Rippoll Katusha Team @ same time
165 Gregory Henderson Lotto – Belisol Team @ same time
166 Manuel Quinziato BMC Racing Team @ same time
167 Lars Ytting Bak Lotto – Belisol Team @ same time
168 Steven Cummings BMC Racing Team @ same time
169 Yohann Gène Europcar @ same time
170 Julien Fouchard Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
171 Gustav Erik Larsson Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
172 Alexandre Vinokourov Astana Pro Team @ same time
173 Blel Kadri Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
174 Hubert Dupont Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
175 Jan Ghyselinck Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
176 Grega Bole Lampre – ISD @ same time
177 Juan Jose Haedo Team Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank @ same time
178 Michael Morkov Team Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank @ same time
179 Nicolas Edet Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
180 J̩rome Pineau Omega Pharma РQuickstep @ same time
181 David Zabriskie Garmin – Sharp @ same time
182 Andre Greipel Lotto – Belisol Team @ same time
183 Marcel Sieberg Lotto – Belisol Team @ same time
184 Christian Knees Sky Procycling @ same time
185 Maarten Tjallingii Rabobank Cycling Team 04:05
186 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
187 Julien Simon Saur – Sojasun 04:13
188 Martin Velits Omega Pharma – Quickstep @ same time
189 Marcel Kittel Argos-Shimano 04:23
190 Vladimir Karpets Movistar Team 04:42
191 Bernhard Eisel Sky Procycling 04:50
192 Yuriy Krivtsov Lampre – ISD 05:40
193 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil Movistar Team @ same time
194 Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui Euskaltel – Euskadi 06:11
195 Pablo Urtasun Perez Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
196 Francis De Greef Lotto – Belisol Team 06:44
197 Jean-marc Marino Saur – Sojasun @ same time
198 Guillaume Levarlet Saur – Sojasun 08:52

OVERALL
1 Fabian Cancellara RadioShack – Nissan 05:05:32
2 Bradley Wiggins Sky Procycling 00:07
3 Sylvain Chavanel Omega Pharma – Quickstep @ same time
4 Tejay Van Garderen BMC Racing Team 00:10
5 Edvald Boasson Hagen Sky Procycling 00:11
6 Denis Menchov Katusha Team 00:13
7 Philippe Gilbert BMC Racing Team @ same time
8 Cadel Evans BMC Racing Team 00:17
9 Vincenzo Nibali Liquigas – Cannondale 00:18
10 Ryder Hesjedal Garmin – Sharp @ same time
11 Andr̩as Kl̦den RadioShack РNissan 00:19
12 Bauke Mollema Rabobank Cycling Team 00:21
13 Maxime Monfort RadioShack – Nissan 00:22
14 Janez Brajkovic Astana Pro Team @ same time
15 Christian Vande Velde Garmin – Sharp @ same time
16 Rein Taaramäe Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
17 Jean-christophe Peraud Ag2R – La Mondiale 00:23
18 Tony Martin Omega Pharma – Quickstep @ same time
19 Marco Marcato Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
20 Vladimir Gusev Katusha Team

 

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