Belgian cyclist Jasper Philipsen kicked off the 2024 Tour de France in style, sprinting to victory in Stage 1 amid roaring crowds near Lille. The Alpecin-Deceuninck star praised teammate Mathieu van der Poel for positioning him perfectly in the final 100 meters, securing his 10th career Tour stage win. 🌟
Yellow Jersey Dreams Come True
Philipsen, who previously wore the green sprinter's jersey, called wearing yellow "incredible" and thanked Belgian fans for giving him "goosebumps" during the final stretch. Eritrea's Biniam Girmay and Norway's Soren Waerenskjold rounded out the podium.
Big Names Play It Safe
Defending champion Tadej Pogacar (18th) and two-time winner Jonas Vingegaard (20th) stayed out of the sprint frenzy, finishing safely in the front group. All riders clocked 3h53m on the 185km route through northern France.
Crash Drama Unfolds
The stage saw multiple crashes, including a dramatic tumble between French riders Benjamin Thomas and Matteo Vercher during a cobblestone climb. Olympic champ Remco Evenepoel narrowly avoided an early collision that forced Italy's Filippo Ganna to abandon the race.
