Belgian fans experienced a mix of triumph and disappointment on the opening stage of the Tour de France as Jasper Philipsen secured a sprint victory and the coveted yellow jersey, while star rider Remco Evenepoel lost crucial time in his overall title bid.
Philipsen, a 27-year-old Belgian, notched his tenth Tour de France stage win in a chaotic sprint finish in Lille, a rare occasion for a sprinter to also claim the race lead.
Title favourites Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard both finished safely in the lead group. However, Vingegaard, the reigning two-time Tour champion, made a decisive move, accelerating with 20 km to go to split the peloton.
His tactical pounce gained him and his Visma team a significant 40-second advantage over several key rivals, including Evenepoel. Vingegaard later confirmed this was a planned move, executed perfectly.
Evenepoel “Asleep” During Crucial Split, Other Contenders Also Caught Out
Defending champion Pogacar appeared frustrated at the finish but was relieved to have avoided the split.
Conversely, Remco Evenepoel, who finished third in his Tour debut last year, expressed dismay, admitting his team was “asleep” and thought the danger had passed when the peloton split with him and sprinter Tim Merlier trapped behind.
Around 40 riders contested the final sprint, which saw one of many falls throughout the day. Other prominent riders caught out in the strong winds included Primož Roglič and Florian Lipowitz of Red Bull, as well as UAE Team Emirates’ João Almeida. Another UAE rider, Adam Yates, lost minutes, potentially impacting Pogacar’s support in the later stages.
Africa’s only rider, Biniam Girmay, a three-time stage winner in 2024 and the reigning green jersey holder, finished second to Philipsen and earned the white jersey for the best rider under 25.
Meanwhile, former time-trial world champion Filippo Ganna crashed heavily on a corner and will not continue the race, a blow to Ineos’s hopes for veteran Geraint Thomas.
Philipsen, in the yellow jersey, will lead the peloton into Sunday’s second stage, a hilly 209 km route towards Boulogne-sur-Mer.
