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CLERMONT-Ferrand: Belgian Lotte Kopecky continued a formidable season overshadowed by the dying of her brother by profitable the primary stage of the ladies’s Tour de France on Sunday in Clermont-Ferrand.
Hours earlier than Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard was because of be topped males’s champion on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, SD Worx rider Kopecky crossed the road alone, 41 seconds forward of her Dutch teammate Lorena Wiebes.
Race favourites Annemiek Van Vleuten and Demi Vollering, each additionally from the Netherlands, have been among the many main group.
“My function doesn’t change. I’m right here to assist Demi win the Tour and if I’ve to sacrifice myself I’ll,” mentioned Kopecky, 24, who claimed her tenth win of the season.
The Belgian rider has raced this season, mourning the dying of her 29-year-old brother Seppe who handed away immediately in March.
On Sunday, she attacked shortly earlier than the summit of the Durtol, 9 kilometres from the road to seal victory. In addition to taking the chief’s yellow jersey, Kopecky will get the inexperienced factors classification and polka dot jerseys for one of the best climber.
“I had been desirous about this success for a very long time,” she mentioned.
“Sport is above all emotion. And this one is a wonderful one.
“It’s an enormous success, possibly not a very powerful as a result of the Tour of Flanders and my monitor world titles additionally matter so much. However this yellow jersey is absolutely huge.”
If Kopecky “hopes to maintain the jersey for a number of days”, she “doesn’t overlook” that she is on the Tour “with a single goal” to make sure that Vollering, second final yr behind van Vleuten, wins the title.
“If I’ve to sacrifice my jersey within the coming days, I’ll do it,” she added.
France’s Juliette Labous, runner-up on this yr’s Giro d’Italia, was the primary loser of the day, left behind within the Durtol ascent.
Monday’s second stage takes the peloton from Clermont-Ferrand to Mauriac in Cantal, on a 151km route with six climbs, the final lower than two kilometres from the road. — AFP
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