Marcel Kittel wins opening stage of Tour de France
Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano) survived a final 10 kilometres of complete chaos to win the opening stage of the Tour de France and claim the first yellow jersey of the race. Kittel was one of the few pure sprinters to survive carnage that no one could have imagined.
All was calm with around 20km to go, but then news came through that the Orica-GreenEdge bus had got itself stuck under the finish line gantry. The pictures then showed it well and truly wedged and the organisation had to do something.
They decided to move the finish line to the three kilometre to go point - only that was placed right on a chicane, something the riders wouldn't necessarily have known.
When the bunch heard the news they sped up as a sense of panic seemed to overcome them. Then there was a crash at the front of the peloton taking out Peter Sagan (Cannondale) and delaying Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) who at least stayed upright.
The bunch was instantly split to pieces. With just minutes to spare the Orica bus had managed to free itself and the finish was moved back to its original position. The riders - at least those ones still at the head of the race - must have been utterly confused.
The cameras then flashed to André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) stood at the side of the road with a mechanical. It was turning in to last man standing as riders at the front constantly looked over their shoulders to see if their sprinter was with them.
Matt Goss (Orica-GreenEdge) was the final sprinter to take himself out of the running with a crash in the final kilometre. Kittel, however, had done everything right, positioning himself perfectly and timing his sprint to perfection to take his maiden Tour stage.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) came home in second, with youngest rider in the race, Danny Van Poppel (Vacansoleil-DCM) in third. David Millar (Garmin-Sharp) crossed the line in fourth to finish as top British rider - a fact that no-one could have predicted prior to the stage.
Before everyone had crossed the line, the organisers said that all riders would be given the same finishing time.
Tomorrow, the riders will tackle a hilly 154km route from Bastia to Ajaccio. Full stage two preview >>
Results
Tour de France 2013, stage one: Porto Vecchio to Bastia, 212km
1. Marcel Kittel (Ger) Argos-Shimano in 4-56-52
2. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha
3. Danny Van Poppel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM
4. David Millar (GBr) Garmin-Sharp
5. Matteo Trentino (Ita) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
6. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale
7. Greg Henderson (NZl) Lotto-Belisol
8. Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto-Belisol
9. Jose Rojas (Spa) Movistar
10. Kris Boeckmans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM all same time
Other
41. Chris Froome (GBr) Sky
58. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
62. Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Sky
165. Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky
183. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky all same time
Overall classification after stage one
1. Marcel Kittel (Ger) Argos-Shimano in 4-56-52
2. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha
3. Danny Van Poppel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM
4. David Millar (GBr) Garmin-Sharp
5. Matteo Trentino (Ita) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
6. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale
7. Greg Henderson (NZl) Lotto-Belisol
8. Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto-Belisol
9. Jose Rojas (Spa) Movistar
10. Kris Boeckmans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM all same time
Other
41. Chris Froome (GBr) Sky
58. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
62. Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Sky
165. Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky
183. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky all same time
Peloton roll along in Corsica
Chris Froome
Orica-GreenEdge bus gets stuck under finish line gantry
Tony Gallopin and Tony Martin caught in a crash
Marcel Kittel celebrates his first Tour stage win
Crash damage for Peter Sagan
Marcel Kittel in the yellow jersey
Related links
Stage one photo gallery
Tour de France 2013: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
Tour de France 2013: The Big Preview
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
-
'In the summer I’ll also jump into a hot bath for 20 minutes after a ride': A week in training with a WorldTour rider
We caught up with Australian Chris Harper as he prepared for this summer's Vuelta a España
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Small but perfectly formed? Seatylock Foldylock Compact review
An admirable size-to-strength ratio makes this a compelling offering for weight-conscious commuters
By Luke Friend Published
-
Marcel Kittel: ‘I believe in Mark Cavendish'
The 14 time Tour de France stage winner backs Manxman to grab record breaking 35th stage win in the coming days
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Marcel Kittel reveals the power numbers and effort behind his most successful Tour de France years
Marcel Kittel has revealed some of the staggering power numbers behind his most successful Tour de France years in a new study.
By Alex Ballinger Published
-
Marcel Kittel: I hope Tom Dumoulin finds the answers he needs
The German sprinter similarly took a break from cycling in May 2019, retiring a few months later
By Jonny Long Published
-
Marcel Kittel: ‘There’s no shame in change’
Sprinting icon Marcel Kittel reveals the reasons behind his retirement – and why cycling needs to open up about the extreme pressures endured by riders
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Marcel Kittel says he's not surprised Tom Dumoulin wanted to leave Sunweb
The German quit racing in 2019 while Dumoulin transferred to Jumbo-Visma after injury curtailed his season
By Jonny Long Published
-
'I don’t know how depressed people feel, but I think I went in that direction' says Marcel Kittel, who also reveals post-cycling plans
The German sprinter has opened up about what his future holds
By Jonny Long Published
-
Marcel Kittel announces retirement from cycling
The German said "[I] didn't want to watch my son grow up via Skype"
By Jonny Long Published
-
'You miss the big sprinters' : How absence of Cavendish & Kittel has changed the Tour de France sprints
Riders give their views on how Tour de France sprints change without two of the race's best ever sprinters
By Gregor Brown Published