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Tour de la Provence (2021) Photos; Stage 1: Aubagne → Six-Fours-les-Plages, 182 km | ||
| return to: « Tour de la Provence 2021 Dashboard | Tour de la Provence (2021) photo gallery | Stage 02 photos » | |
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| Philippe Gilbert (Belgium / Team Lotto Soudal) at the stage 1 start in Aubagne | share this photo | |
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| Start scene for Stage 1 in Aubagne | share this photo | |
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| Early climb | share this photo | |
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| Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) bridged up to the break on the final climb and later helped in the sprint finish | share this photo | |
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| Arnaud DEMARE (FRA/GROUPAMA - FDJ) jumped first in the sprint finish | share this photo | |
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| Davide BALLERINI (ITA/DECEUNINCK - QUICK-STEP) coming around Arnaud DEMARE (FRA/GROUPAMA - FDJ) | share this photo | |
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| Davide BALLERINI (ITA/DECEUNINCK - QUICK-STEP) wins Stage 1 in 4:43:23 ahead of 2nd Arnaud DEMARE (FRA/GROUPAMA - FDJ), 3rd Nacer BOUHANNI (FRA/ARKEA - SAMSIC) and 4th Clement VENTURINI (FRA/AG2R CITROEN) | share this photo | |
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| “We had a plan, and that was to try something after the first 100 kilometers of the stage, so I went with around 70 kilometers to go and got to spend a beautiful day at the front. The legs were good and together with the other two riders I shared the workload at the front. When the gap went over one minute, I still knew it was going to be difficult, but I still gave my best. At the end of the day, I am satisfied with my condition and the way it panned out for us”, explained Julian Alaphilippe after the stage. First to kick out on the finishing straight was Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ), who opened a significant gap on the others. With the wind blowing from the right side in Six-Fours-les-Plages, Davide Ballerini timed it perfectly and surged down the barriers some 150 meters from the line, shooting past the Frenchman and opening his 2021 account, thus giving the Wolfpack a perfect start to the season. “I had good legs coming into the race after the training camp, but I didn’t expect anything like this. We have a very strong team for this race and are all extremely motivated, so to get the win on the first day is just great. A big thank you goes to all the guys, because they put in an incredible effort and were pretty special the entire day.” “The final wasn’t easy. Démare took six meters, but I found the space to come back, as well as the speed I needed to pass him. To win so early, and in front of one of last year’s best sprinters, is good for the confidence and brings me a lot of joy”, added Ballerini, who on Friday will sport the race’s Mondrian-style leader’s jersey. | share this photo | |
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| Stage 1 winner and race leader, Davide BALLERINI (ITA/DECEUNINCK - QUICK-STEP) | share this photo | |
Tour de la Provence (2021) Photos; Stage 1: Aubagne → Six-Fours-les-Plages, 182 km | ||
| return to: « Tour de la Provence 2021 Dashboard | Tour de la Provence (2021) photo gallery | Stage 02 photos » | |
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