France’s Bardet wins Tour de France opener as Cavendish suffers

Author: AFP

French climber Romain Bardet of the DSM team claimed the overall leader’s yellow jersey when he won the opening stage of the Tour de France on Saturday with a late escape on a 206km run from Florence to Rimini. Searing heat of 30C (86F) blighted the peloton as it set off from downtown Florence on the 21-day epic leaving many riders suffering, with British sprinter Mark Cavendish trailing by 30 minutes when Bardet crossed the finish line. “I was hurting so bad I saw stars,” Cavendish said after resting at his team bus.

“If you have my body type, don’t start a cycling career, those days are gone,” said the stocky sprint specialist. “We aren’t riding around chatting anymore.” All the main contenders for the Tour title crossed the line five seconds adrift in the first of four stages featuring racing in Italy. The 33-year-old Bardet’s teammate Frank Van Den Broek was part of an early break and the pair survived a reel-in effort from a fast-closing peloton for victory on the Rimini seafront. Bardet’s first thoughts were for his young teammate.

Share
Leave a Comment

Recent Posts

  • Lifestyle

The Black Crowes enjoy Grammy Awards love again decades after first nomination

The first time Chris and Rich Robinson were at the Grammy Awards, it was 1991.…

7 hours ago
  • Lifestyle

Aagha Ali wishes Hina Altaf ‘happiness’ and ‘success’

Renowned Pakistani television actor and host Aagha Ali recently opened up about his divorce from…

7 hours ago
  • Lifestyle

‘Comedy Nights with Kapil’ was the biggest mistake of my life: Naseem Vicky

Pakistan's renowned theatre actor and comedian Naseem Vicky expressed his regret in doing 'Comedy Nights…

7 hours ago
  • Lifestyle

Neha Kakkar praises Pakistani fans, wants to collaborate with Asim Azhar

Renowned Indian playback singer Neha Kakkar has expressed her admiration for Pakistani fans and voiced…

7 hours ago
  • Lifestyle

Diljit Dosanjh beats Shahrukh Khan and Allu Arjun in UK Top 50 Asian Celebrities list

Riding on the newest high of his career, with the massive success of his global…

7 hours ago
  • Lifestyle

Javed Sheikh celebrates 50 years in showbiz with friends

Javed Sheikh has been a part of the industry for five decades. He recently celebrated…

7 hours ago