The rain soaked opening stage of the Tour of Denmark saw a late escape take the spoils with Lars Boom (Astana) being the first rider across the line. Lars Bak (Lotto-Soudal) was 2nd and Asbjorn Kragh Andersen (Trefor-Blue Water) finished in 3rd.
There would be a frantic start the stage which saw the riders complete 50km in the first hour of racing. A large group of 44 riders eventually separated itself from the rest of the peloton and opened up a 30″ gap. MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung had good representation in the front and so we drove the pace with Tinkoff-Saxo.
Strangely a whole host of punctures plagued the peloton and both Andy Stauff and Gerald Ciolek flatted from the front group. Eventually though, after 80km of racing the two groups re-joined. A new break then formed of 6 riders and as quickly as there 3 minute lead went out, it also came down.
With 17km to go the defining move of the stage came when Chris Juul-Jensen (Tinkoff-Saxo) jumped clear from the peloton as the break were being caught. 5 other riders joined him and this would be the race winning break. The 6 combined well to open up the gap to 40″ and despite a chase by our African team, it was clear the stage would be decided by the opportunists. Lars Boom got the jump on his counterparts with 3km to go and soloed to the stage win and the race leader’s yellow jersey.
Andy Stauff – Rider
Michel Cornelisse – Sport Director
