Bardet and Van Aert resist pressure and break away together.
At around 11 p.m. Beijing time on June 29, the Tour de France S1 (Florence – Rimini) concluded, with an initial breakaway of nine riders. Bardet seized the opportunity to join them, followed by a second breakaway with Van Aert, leaving the rest behind. They held off the chase group for the final 25 kilometers, crossing the line together, turning the main peloton into a backdrop. Bardet claimed victory and the yellow jersey; let’s review the race.
The race route. Spanning 206 kilometers from Florence in central Italy eastward, the course included six climbs and one sprint point. With many undulating sections through the Apennine Mountains in the middle and latter parts, it was not an ideal scenario for large sprinters or their teams. Instead, it presented a chance for intermediate sprint breakaways, likely ending in a small-group sprint finish.
▲S1 Route Map
Amid cheers from Florence’s citizens, the race began. After the start, Mohoric (Bahrain Team), Madouas (FDJ), Izagirre Jr. (Cofidis), Abrahamson (Uno-X), Van den Broeck, among others (DSM Team), formed the breakaway group.
▲Breakaway Group
Cavendish unexpectedly dropped back, with his gap to the main group increasing to over 15 minutes, raising concerns about his Astana team’s goal of his 35th win. The entire Astana team withdrew from the peloton to support him.
In a post-race interview, Cavendish said, “I really struggled with the humid heat, not feeling great on the climbs. Thankfully, my teammates’ support gave me motivation to push on.”
After three climbs, Izagirre Jr., Champeau, Duling, and Vecchi were dropped due to fatigue, leaving only five in the breakaway. Their lead remained within two minutes of the main group, which, despite being led by UAE Team Emirates, didn’t want to expend energy too early. A temporary truce prevailed.
With 70 kilometers left, UAE Team Emirates took control of the peloton, but rival teams closely watched, limiting their efforts. Soon, Lotto Soudal took over, and Bardet exploited the moment of slower pace in the main group to bridge up to the front riders. Assisted by Van Aert, Bardet joined the breakaway.
However, DSM wasn’t satisfied, and as they approached the fifth climb, the duo accelerated, leaving the other four behind. The main group started to close the gap, reaching a minute behind Bardet.
Undeterred, Bardet, with Van Aert’s relentless help, crossed the finish line 50 meters ahead of the pack, pulling off a miracle. Bardet commented, “Today, I knew beating the peloton wouldn’t be easy, but I had a great teammate with me, and we did it!”
After the race, Bardet claimed the yellow jersey, Van Aert won the green and white jerseys, while Abrahamson secured the polka dot jersey. Stage 2 ( Cesenatico – Bologna) takes place on June 30, stay tuned.
Race Photos
