Stage 1: RHÊMES-SAINT-GEORGES / RHÊMES-NOTRE-DAME
Huge emotions today at the 55th Giro Ciclistico Internazionale della Valle d’Aosta - Mont Blanc with the first inline stage from Rhemes Saint Georges to Remes Notre Dame. After a neutralization of 30’ (imposed by the jury after a massive crash along the first kilometres of the stage) the race soon got sparkling with the guys of Petroli Firenze Hopplà Maserati. Six men lead the breakaway: the Italians Cacciotti, Colonna, Dotti and Baldaccini, the Belgian Huys and the Frenchman Henrio. The peloton let go this attempt with a maximum gap of seven minutes. The breakaway gets to the Sprint Catch of Arvier (won by Dotti) and the KOM of Entreves (won by Cacciotti). The steep climb of Colle San Carlo then, made the difference, cracking the pack as well as the breakaway. The KOM is won by Cacciotti, ahead of Baldaccini and Huys. The race however changes its face along the climb of Les Combes with Huys forcing the pace. The Belgian reaches first the top of the mountain, while from the peloton escape Donovan and Bais. On the final climb towards Rhemes Notre Dame the situation changes once again. Cacciotti and Donovan drop out of the contenders, while Huys is reached and overtaken by a surprising Bellia. From the back the Dutch Inkelaar comes up very quickly and closes onto the Italian, beating him at the final incredible sprint. For the first the joy for the stage win, for the second the satisfaction of wearing the yellow jersey of the leader. Third on the finish line is the Dane Greegard, with a perfect finale.
Yellow jersey is on the shoulders of Matteo Bellia (IAM Excelsior), the polka dot jersey is owned by Andrea Cacciotti (Petroli Firenze Hopplà Maserati), points classification is led by Kevin Inkelaar (Polartec Kometa), whileOttavio Dotti (Petroli Firenze Hopplà Maserati) wears the Sprint Catch jersey. Last but not the least a noticeable news is that after 50 kms the now former yellow jersey (after the Prologue) Vingegaard, decided for a retirement.
Stage ClassificationKm. 158,800 - average 32,521 km/h | Overall ClassificationKm. 166,700 - average 32,273 km/h | |||||||
| 1. | INKELAAR Kevin POLARTEC KOMETA TEAM | 04:52:59" | 1. | BELLIA Matteo IAM EXCELSIOR | 05:09:55" | |||
| 2. | BELLIA Matteo IAM EXCELSIOR | a | 0" | 2. | INKELAAR Kevin POLARTEC KOMETA TEAM | a | 30" | |
| 3. | GREGAARD WILSLY Jonas DENMARK NATIONAL TEAM | a | 01'07" | 3. | GREGAARD WILSLY Jonas DENMARK NATIONAL TEAM | a | 01'21" | |
| 4. | LEKNESSUND Andreas NORWAY NATIONAL TEAM | a | 01'17" | 4. | LEKNESSUND Andreas NORWAY NATIONAL TEAM | a | 01'35" | |
| 5. | ABDERRAHIM Zahiri TREVIGIANI PHONIX HEMUS 1896 | a | 01'31" | 5. | LÓPEZ PEREZ Juan Pedro POLARTEC KOMETA TEAM | a | 02'02" | |
| 6. | BALLESTEROS CANOVAS Miguel Angel POLARTEC KOMETA TEAM | a | 01'37" | 6. | MONACO Alessandro Teodoro PETROLI FIRENZE MASERATI HOPPL | a | 02'08" | |
| 7. | HUYS Laurens LOTTO SOUDAL | a | 01'38" | 7. | ABDERRAHIM Zahiri TREVIGIANI PHONIX HEMUS 1896 | a | 02'11" | |
| 8. | BOTTA Davide COLPACK | a | 01'58" | 8. | HUYS Laurens LOTTO SOUDAL | a | 02'15" | |
| 9. | PRONSKIY Vadim ASTANA CITY | a | 01'58" | 9. | GIURIATO Alberto CYCLING TEAM FRIULI | a | 02'29" | |
| 10. | MONACO Alessandro Teodoro PETROLI FIRENZE MASERATI HOPPL | a | 01'58" | 10. | RUBIO REYES Einer Augusto TEAM VEJUS | a | 02'30" | |
The stage in videos
The stage in pictures
