Preview: What you need to know about stage 1 of the 2022 Tour de France
Preview: What you need to know about stage 1 of the 2022 Tour de France
Date: Friday July 1
Start: Copenhagen
Finish: Copenhagen
Distance: 13.2 km (individual time trial)
It’s a year later than planned but the Tour de France has finally arrived in Denmark. A pan-flat, 13.2 km time trial in Copenhagen will offer the time trial specialists a chance at the first yellow jersey.
Riders will pass iconic landmarks such as the Tivoli Gardens and the Little Mermaid. A few tricky corners make this a technical course, but, let’s be honest, when is a time trial course not described as technical? Remember that perfectly straight time trial from the Tour de Whatever a few years ago? Nope.
Who will win stage 1?
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl’s Kasper Asgreen will be a home favourite and the most likely Dane to take a win on home soil, as long as he’s recovered from injury. Trek-Segafredo’s Mads Pedersen has apparently been preparing meticulously and is another Dane to watch.
But they will face stiff competition. There’s Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) of course, but there’s also Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) who could have his first showdown with Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix). The Dutchman is no TT slouch and will be looking to at least keep himself in with a chance of taking yellow at a later date.
Meanwhile, overall contenders Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) and Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) should perform capably, and Groupama-FDJ’s Stefan Küng? He’ll be fourth, obviously.
Follow the link for start times for the stage 1 ITT.
