Lionel Taminiaux s'est adjugé au sprint devant Gijs Van Hoecke la première étape du #tog2024 #tourofguangxi2024
Thrilling sprint on wide roads: Taminiaux edges out compatriot Van Hoecke in Guangxi showdown
CyclingTuesday, 15 October 2024 at 10:01
The first stage of the very last WorldTour race of 2024 has been won by Lionel Taminiaux. The fast rider from Lotto Dstny opened the Tour of Guangxi with a victory in the mass sprint on the streets of Fangchenggang. As a result, Taminiaux is also the first leader, narrowly beating Gijs Van Hoecke in the sprint.
Hot conditions in Guangxi, while autumn slowly sets in across Europe. The images from the peloton are always somewhat surreal, much like those from the Tour Down Under. The race included four laps through the start and finish town, with a few hills along the way. These shouldn’t have posed a problem for the sprinters in the peloton, who otherwise won’t have much to look forward to in this edition, as it’s packed with hilly stages. So, who seized the opportunity?
Two Belgians in the lead, including Pogacar's newly appointed helper Herregodts
After just a few kilometers, a breakaway formed, partly due to the day's course profile. It seemed that no one saw real chances for a successful escape, except for two Belgians. Stan Dewulf, riding for Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, and Rune Herregodts, who was racing in one of his final days for Intermarché-Wanty. Herregodts is soon set to join Tadej Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates.
The duo at the front quickly received the peloton's blessing, building a lead of about three and a half minutes. However, 35 kilometers from the finish, the riders in the pack began to close the gap, which slowly started to shrink. For the few supporters along the roadside, there wasn’t much else to witness. It was a long build-up to the day's final sprint, where the victory and the leader’s jersey awaited.
Build-up to the sprint: Dewulf refuses to accept the classic scenario
Dewulf wasn’t content with a breakaway destined to die quietly. He attacked on one of the small climbs and dropped Herregodts. With 15 kilometers to go, he still had a 1:38 minute lead over the peloton. Were we in for a classic cat-and-mouse game? Absolutely! Dewulf powered on, and with nine kilometers left, his advantage had shrunk to just under a minute. However, the chase intensified, with none other than Chris Froome putting in hard work at the front.
On the straight, wide roads, the last escapee was quickly within sight. Several teams took turns at the front, including Astana, Cofidis, and Soudal Quick-Step. With three kilometers remaining, the brave Belgian was caught. As the riders entered the final 1,000 meters, EF Education-EasyPost’s lead-out train, working for Marijn van den Berg, appeared perfectly positioned. But they went too early, and the sprint turned chaotic, with many riders side by side. Taminiaux seemed to be the first to cross the line, just ahead of Van Hoecke, who finished second for Intermarché-Wanty.
Results stage 1 Tour of Guangxi 2024
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
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Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024