BRATISLAVA. On average, it rains every second day of the year in Copenhagen. In total, more than 500 millimeters of precipitation falls there in a year. Therefore, rainy forecasts for the first stage are not surprising.
“However, in the morning it was still true that the first half of the competitors had to start in the dry,” said Eurosport co-commentator and former winner of the green jersey at the Tour Robbie McEwen. It rained from the beginning.
The teams set up according to the forecast and fielded their strongest riders at the start to have the advantage of a dry track.
It didn’t happen. It turned out exactly the opposite. Because the rain stopped after an hour and a half. Although the road did not completely dry out, the conditions were somewhat more acceptable in the end.
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He felt like he was losing at every turn
A strong trio – Filippo Ganna, Wout van Aert and Tadej Pogačar – also finished in the worst weather.
The Belgian van Aert got to the first place. It seemed that it would be difficult for anyone to defeat him. He was the fastest in the rain on the technical track with 18 sharp turns.
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“I had to be careful in the corners, because if I went to the limit, I could lose more time than gain,” described Mathieu van der Poel.
When the rain stopped, the fastest time was erased by Yves Lampaert.
“That was crazy, I don’t understand how it happened, mate. I felt like I was losing time in every corner,” Lampaert told van Aert as they passed each other in the finish area.
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“I wouldn’t even say,” van Aert replied with a grin.
Apparently, Lampaert did not particularly concentrate on this time trial.
He cried: I’m just a farmer’s son
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