Jasper Philipsen Claims First Stage of Tour de France in Thrilling Sprint
Jasper Philipsen powered his way to victory in the opening stage of the Tour de France on Saturday, showcasing his sprinting prowess in a dramatic finish. The Belgian cyclist pulled ahead in the final 100 meters, securing his 10th Tour stage win and earning the coveted yellow jersey for the first time in his career.
“I have dreamed of wearing the yellow jersey,” Philipsen said after the race. “In the last two kilometers there were a lot of spectators, and that gave me goosebumps.”
Philipsen’s teammate, Mathieu van der Poel of Alpecin-Deceuninck, played a crucial role in setting up the sprint, positioning Philipsen perfectly for the final dash to the line. Eritrean cyclist Biniam Girmay finished a close second, while Norway’s Soren Waerenskjold took third place.
Pogacar Starts Strong
Defending champion Tadej Pogacar maintained a safe position throughout the 185-kilometer stage around the northern city of Lille. The Slovenian rider finished in the front group, alongside two-time Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark. Both are aiming for another title and showed strong form early in the race.
Pogacar and Vingegaard did not contest the sprint but finished with the same time as the stage winner, keeping them well-placed in the general classification.
Early Crashes Shake the Peloton
The stage was not without incident. Double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel narrowly avoided a crash that took down Italian rider Filippo Ganna after about 50 kilometers. Ganna continued but later abandoned the race. Swiss cyclist Stefan Bissegger was also forced to withdraw following a separate crash.
Another tumble occurred when French riders Benjamin Thomas and Matteo Vercher competed for bonus points on a short cobblestone climb. Thomas overtook Vercher but lost control, causing both to fall. Fortunately, they were able to continue the race.
What’s Next
The Tour de France continues with Stage 2, offering riders another chance to make their mark in cycling’s most prestigious event. All eyes will be on Philipsen to see if he can retain the yellow jersey and on Pogacar as he aims for a fourth Tour victory.
