Published June 30, 2022 11:49PM
Preview: What you need to know about stage 1 of the 2022 Tour de France
A chance for the TT specialists to wear yellow.
Date: Friday July 1
Start: Copenhagen
Finish: Copenhagen
Distance: 13.2 km (individual time trial)
It’s a year later than planned but the Tour de France has finally arrived in Denmark. A pan-flat, 13.2 km time trial in Copenhagen will offer the time trial specialists a chance at the first yellow jersey.
Riders will pass iconic landmarks such as the Tivoli Gardens and the Little Mermaid. A few tricky corners make this a technical course, but, let’s be honest, when is a time trial course not described as technical? Remember that perfectly straight time trial from the Tour de Whatever a few years ago? Nope.
Who will win stage 1?
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl’s Kasper Asgreen will be a home favourite and the most likely Dane to take a win on home soil, as long as he’s recovered from injury. Trek-Segafredo’s Mads Pedersen has apparently been preparing meticulously and is another Dane to watch.
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But they will face stiff competition. There’s Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) of course, but there’s also Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) who could have his first showdown with Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix). The Dutchman is no TT slouch and will be looking to at least keep himself in with a chance of taking yellow at a later date.
Meanwhile, overall contenders Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) and Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) should perform capably, and Groupama-FDJ’s Stefan Küng? He’ll be fourth, obviously.
Follow the link for start times for the stage 1 ITT.
