Bayonne (France) (EFE) Yates kept the leader’s yellow jersey.
It is the third victory for the Alpecin cyclist in the gala round, after the two he achieved last year, in Carcassonne and on the Champs-Élysées in the stage that closed the edition.
Well launched by Mathieu van der Poel, the 25-year-old cyclist, second in the last Paris-Roubaix, obtained an easy victory, his seventh this season.
Philipsen: “A sprint with a corner at the end is always difficult”
The Belgian Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) took the first sprint of the 110th edition of the Tour de France, in Bayonne, after a “painful wait” as the race judges had to review an alleged incorrect maneuver by the winner that was finally considered legal.
“I was a little doubtful, but in the end it was really exciting. They have been tense moments, but it is the Tour de France and there are no gifts for anyone and I think I can be very happy with the performance of our team”, said Philipsen at the finish line.
The Belgian cyclist explained the confusing sprint that made his third Tour de France victory possible.
“We had control at the finish with Jonas Rickaert, who launched in the first part of the sprint, and then Mathieu Van der Poel did a fantastic job. I am very happy that I was able to stay in the lead until the finish line”, he said.
The 25-year-old cyclist from Ham stressed that an S sprint is always tricky.
“It was a tricky finish with an S-bend at the end, so I tried to take the shortest route to the finish. It is our first victory, but we will try to increase the count. To begin with, I am happy, ”he concluded.