Andrea Bagioli (Deceuinck—Quick-Step) took his first professional victory at Friday’s opening stage of the Tour de l’Ain in Ceyzériat, France.
Bagioli, who turned 21 in March, sprinted past pre-race favorite Primož Roglič on the uphill finish into the town in southeastern France. The finish came after Roglič was given a sprint leadout by his new Jumbo-Visma teammate, Tom Dumoulin.
Bagioli joined the Belgian team earlier this year after a stellar career in the Under-23 ranks which saw him win the 2019 Ronde de l’Isard and finished 2nd overall at the 2018 Under-23 Liege-Bastogen-Liege
The Tour de l’Ain continues Saturday with a mountain stage in the Jura mountains that includes five categorized climbs. This year the small French race has attracted a smattering of WorldTour heavy hitters, among them Chris Froome, Egan Bernal, Geraint Thomas (all Team Ineos), Roglič and Dumoulin, and others. The race concludes on Sunday with a mountainous route to Grand Colombiere that mimics the decisive stage 15 of the upcoming Tour de France.
Tour de l’Ain stage 1
- Andrea Bagioli, Deceuinick—Quick-Step, 3:17:00
- Primož Roglič, Jumbo-Visma
- Stefan Bissegger, Team Switzerland
- Tom Dumoulin, Jumbo-Visma
- Erik Fetter, Kometa Xstra
- Giacomo Garavaglia, Kometa Xstra
- Guillaume Martin, Cofidis Solutions Credits
- Joao Almeida, Deceuinick—Quick-Step
- Bauke Mollema, Trek-Segafredo
- Valerio Conti, UAE-Team Emirates, all at s.t.