The British Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos) is the first leader of the Tour of the Alps after winning the first stage, between the Austrian towns of Rattenberg and Alpbach, with a distance of 127.5 km. Tao Geoghegan, a 28-year-old Londoner, winner of the Giro d’Italia in 2020, was the strongest among the favorites and proved it one km from the kill with a start that allowed him to take the lead and raise his arms with a time of 3h. 18.00.
A forceful attack that of Geoghegan, who entered the raised goal with 2 seconds advantage over the Austrian Felix Gall (Ag2r Citrôen) and 4 over his compatriot from EF Education Hugh Carthy. The Colombian from Movistar Iván Ramiro Sosa then crossed the line 6 seconds behind. A first notice from Geoghegan, who appears to have returned to his competitive best after erratic years. At the moment he put on the leader’s jersey with 6 seconds ahead of Gall and 10 seconds behind Carthy.
Spectacular day in the Austrian border area with Italy that accumulated the difficulty in the last 25 km. To begin with, a flight with double Spanish representation, since Sergio Samitier (Movistar) and Alex Martin (Eolo Kometa) got into it, and also with representation from Caja Rural Seguros RGA with the Ethiopian Mulu Kinfe Hailemichael. The adventure was doomed. At 60 km from the finish line, he had an advantage of 2.46 minutes, but the most complicated climbs remained and the Ineos from the platoon was already announcing a hunting mission at a high rate.
The end of the dream of the rebels was marked for history with 17 km to go. Another stage began, that of the favourites. And they were appearing as the road was rising. After the ascent to the Branderberg (3rd, 6.2 km to 6.1) with the greats at pace, the first serious movement took place in the Kerschbaumer Sattel (2nd, 5.2 to 10.2), when the Ecuadorian Jefferson Cepeda (EF Education) He attacked 1.5 km from the top, taking Australian Jack Haig (Bahrain) to the wheel.
On the descent the “aussi” runner was more courageous and left Cepeda planted, who was quickly absorbed into the main group. Haig endured what he could, one kilometer from the finish line he had 10 seconds to spare, but he had 15 percent slopes left that burned the few forces he had left. The final 6 km climb was tough. Ineos left the initiative with Geraint Thomas in tow, but Tao Geoghegam’s bullet still remained. Carthy broke the group of “roosters”, caught up with Haig and launched for glory, but from behind the Londoner arrived like an exhalation, powerful, to take the victory and the lead. Gall sneaked into the party before his countrymen and was second.
This Tuesday the second stage will be held, between Reith im Alpbachtal and Ritten, with a distance of 165.2 km. The last 20 km will be very demanding, with the ascent to Barbian (3rd, 4.6 km to 7.8) and Monte di Mezzo (2nd, 3.9 km to 8.3), with the top 3 km from the finish line.
First stage classification
1º Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBR/Ineos) 3h 18:00
2nd Felix Gall (AUT/Ag2r) to 2
3rd Hugh Carthy (GBR/Education First) 4
4th Iván Ramiro Sosa (COL/Movistar) 6
13º Mikel Bizkarra (Euskaltel) 31
General
1º Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBR/Ineos) 3h 17:50
2nd Felix Gall (AUT/Ag2r) at 6
3rd Hugh Carthy (GBR/Education First) 10
4th Iván Ramiro Sosa (COL/Movistar) 16
13th Mikel Bizkarra (Euskaltel) 41