Tour de France favourite Jakob Fuglsang crashes on Stage 1, Dutch lead-out man earns yellow

The 2019 Tour de France almost claimed its first GC victim on Saturday’s start in Brussels, Belgium on Saturday, as Jakob Fuglsang crashed hard on his right side late in the race. Having made it unscathed through another crash within the last two-kilometres that took down his sprinter Dylan Groenewegen, Jumbo-Visma lead-out man Mike Teunissen won a chaotic sprint and pulled on the first yellow jersey, the first Dutch rider to wear yellow for 30 years.

The launch in Brussels celebrated the 50th anniversary of Eddy Merckx’s first of five wins and the 100th anniversary of the yellow jersey. It was the second time the Grand Départ was staged in Brussels and the fifth time in Belgium.

? La Belgique fête le centenaire du Maillot Jaune et son héros Eddy Merckx, 5 fois vainqueur du Tour de France. ?#TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/1GxEiYOti6

— Maillot jaune LCL (@MaillotjauneLCL) July 6, 2019

When Eddy Merckx lined up for his first Tour de France on June 28, 1969, the 24-year-old had already won his first of five Giros, two Paris-Nice titles, three Milan-San Remo triumphs, the first of five Liège-Bastogne-Liège trophies, and a road world championship. Over the next three weeks, he utterly dominated the Tour, claiming the overall, points, and climber’s titles, plus six stage wins. Had it existed, he would have won the white jersey for best young rider too. The daughter of Christian Raymond, a Faema teammate, said, “That Belgian guy, he doesn’t even leave you the crumbs. He’s a real cannibal.”

#TDF2019 – This Grand Depart is celebrating 50yrs since first Merckx Tour de France, he is on Prudhomme's car today. pic.twitter.com/G1Mxot4Lev

— La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) July 6, 2019

The Course

The profile looked like it was one for the sprinters, with two small categorized climbs–including the Kapelmuur–and a few cobbles over 194.5-km.

Today's opening stage of the #TDF2019 will be one for the sprinters, starting and finishing in Brussels and covering 194.5km in between. pic.twitter.com/Wy3av3tUZS

— Cycling Weekly (@cyclingweekly) July 6, 2019

Van Avermaet Tries Something Different

Greg Van Avermaet was part of the first breakaway of the 106th edition, and once he had secured the polka dot jersey, he faded back from the escape.

?? @GregVanAvermaet does not let anyone contest him the points at the top of the Mur de Grammont.

?? Van Avermaet ne laisse aucune chance à ses compagnons d'échappée au sommet du Mur de Grammont. #TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/vzpEuXlm6e

— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 6, 2019

The sprinters’ teams of Bora-Hansgrohe, Lotto-Soudal, Jumbo-Visma and Deceuninck-Quick Step worked in the front of the peloton.

Fuglsang Crashes

With the last holdout, 32-year-old Tour debutante Stephane Rossetto of Cofidis, nearly pulled back, Fuglsang crashed and came away with a bleeding brow. Hugo Houle was one of the teammates who laboured to bring the Dane back to the pack.

The second big crash came inside two kilometres, with Groenewegen down and Geraint Thomas hitting a barrier. From a group of about 20, the Dutchman overcame Peter Sagan right at the line. Sagan will wear the green jersey tomorrow.

Michael Woods and Hugo Houle came in a group that was given the same time as Teunissen.

Tomorrow is a big GC day, the 27.6 team time trial. How hurt is Fuglsang before the first test? He received some stitches over the right eye in the medical truck.

2019 Tour de France Stage 1
1) Mike Teunissen (The Netherlands/Jumbo-Visma) 4:22:27
2) Peter Sagan (Slovakia/Bora-Hansgrohe) s.t.
3) Caleb Ewan (Australia/Lotto-Soudal) s.t.
87) Michael Woods (Canada/EF-Education First) s.t.
91) Hugo Houle (Canada/Astana) s.t.