Published on: 07/01/2022 – 19:33

Pogacar edged out fellow Slovenian and main rival Primoz Roglic, the 2020 runner-up, who finished eighth in the time trial.

Lampaert is a former team time trial world champion, but this was his first stage win on the three-week Tour. He clocked 15 minutes, 17 seconds on the 13 kilometer (eight mile) course around Copenhagen.

The Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider was five seconds ahead of fellow countryman Wout van Aert – Roglic’s Jumbo-Visma teammate – and seven ahead of Pogacar, who runs UAE Team Emirates. Pogacar was nine seconds ahead of Roglic.

Lampaert could hardly believe it when he realized he had won, wiping away tears and putting his hands over his mouth.

The rain was dripping when Roglic finished under gray skies shortly after 4.30pm, and still stinging when Pogacar left around 40 minutes later. Even if he is a wet specialist, Pogacar was cautious in the first corner.

It could have cost him the victory.

‘So much noise’

The runners left to cheers.

“There was so much noise that you could barely hear anything in the earpiece,” said French pilot David Gaudu.

The noise level rose again as local rider Jonas Vingaard – Roglic’s teammate and Tour runner-up last year – came down the start ramp. He placed seventh, one second ahead of Roglic.

Large parts of the Danish capital have been closed. Wet roads made the route dangerous, especially the section on Amalienborg Palace Square, the main residence of Denmark’s royal family, which is paved with cobblestones.

Swiss rider Stefan Bissegger fell twice, but kept going.

The scene passed the city’s other best-known landmarks, including the statue of the Little Mermaid, sitting on her perch at the harbor entrance.

Among the thousands of fans, some of whom waved the red and white Danish flag, was Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

“I grew up with my dad glued to the TV screen watching the Tour de France,” Frederiksen said.

Earlier, Crown Prince of Denmark Frederik walked the route.

“It’s great to see the great support for the Tour at home,” said Frederik, 54, wearing a helmet, shorts and t-shirt. The palace also posted vintage photos of Danish royals riding bicycles on Instagram, including Frederik’s great-grandfather, King Christian X and current Queen Margrethe.

There are two other stages in Denmark this weekend, including the crossing of the Great Belt Bridge which connects the island of Zeeland, where Copenhagen is located, and the central island of Funen.

The first start in Denmark – but the 24th time the race has started outside France – was due to take place in 2021 but was postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

After the Danish stages, the riders go to France with a stage between Dunkirk and Calais.

The race ends in Paris on July 24.

Meanwhile, police closely investigated the Bahrain Victorious team and seized more than 450 capsules of unidentified substances from a house in Slovenia during raids across Europe, European agency Eurojust said on Friday. .

Riders and staff were raided in their homes and the team hotel in Denmark was raided this week.

(AP)