Yves Lampaert stuns Tour de France with opening day time trial victory

Yves Lampaert took the first yellow jersey of the 109th Tour de France with victory in a damp opening time trial in Copenhagen.

The Belgian, riding for Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl, completed the 13.2km course around the Danish capital, made treacherous by the miserable conditions, in a time of 15min 17sec to win by 5sec from Wout van Aert.

Defending champion Tadej Pogacar was a further 2sec back in third place as he took 9sec  out of rival Primoz Roglic.

Adam Yates and Tour debutant Tom Pidcock impressed on their return from Covid, with the Ineos Grenadiers pair 13th and 15th, 16 and 17sec off Pogacar's time respectively.

Team-mate Geraint Thomas, who rode the stage in a gilet after forgetting to take it off before the start, was 1sec further back.

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Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) has crossed the line with a time of 16min 45.89sec to finish in 132nd. As a result, we can confirm that Yves Lampaert (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) won the opening stage and will wear the first yellow jersey of this year's Tour during Saturday's stage. An emotional Lampaert, speaking to French journalist Seb Piquet after his win was confirmed, said: “My mind is exploding. I thought a top 10 would be great and now I beat all the best riders in the world. I'm just a farmer's son from Belgium.

“To do this, I never expected it.

“The roads were really wet, the pot holes were full of water. I think I had the same conditions as the main favourites. Always in the corners I said, 'Yves, go faster, trust in your tyres'.”

The Wolfpack celebrates at the #TDF2022