Cycling: Davide Ballerini has won the first stage of the Tour de la Provence. In the mass sprint he overtook Arnaud Démare just before the line, who looked like the sure winner, but ultimately started too early.
Alaphilippe on the offensive
At the start of the Tour de la Provence, as expected, there was a mass sprint on the 182,3-kilometer section from Aubagne to Six-Fours-les-Plages. After the two outliers Delio Fernandez (Delko) and Lilian Calmejane (AG2R Citroen) were caught up again early on, things really got going around 70 kilometers from the finish. Gianni moscon (Ineos) Julius Ciccone (Trek – Segafredo) and World Champion Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) launched an attack. The gap opened up. The strong trio was able to gain a lead of more than a minute. In the main field, the teams UAE, Arkea - Samsic and Groupama - FDJ tried to follow up. 2,0 kilometers before the finish line, there was a merger.
Ballerini wins before Démare
The Danish Master Kasper Asgreen (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) took over as last helper before the sprinters were left to their own devices. top favourite Arnaud Demare (Groupama – FDJ) got out of the slipstream early and already looked like the sure winner. But then came David Ballerini (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) closer and closer. Shortly before the finish line, the Italian finally pushed past the French champion to win the stage and thus to the overall lead. Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain – Victorious) was eighth as the best German. The 6th Tour de la Provence is better attended than ever before. Due to some race cancellations, many well-known professionals start their season here. The tour will end on Sunday in Salon-de-Provence. We are particularly looking forward to Saturday. Then it goes up the Mont Ventoux.
#TDLP21 🏆 @ballero_94 🇮🇹 @deceuninck_qst Ha ganado la 1ª etapa del @tourlaprovence ???????? pic.twitter.com/vewH4tbMzH
- Passion Cycling 🚴🏻 (@pasiociclismo) February 11, 2021