The Italian Elijah Viviani (Ineos Grenadiers) was the fastest among the select group of riders who starred in the good breakaway of the day and took with authority the first stage of the Tour de Provence disputed between Istres and Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, of 151, 8 km of route, in which his companion and compatriot Filippo Ganna kept the lead.
Viviani (Isola Della Scala, 33 years old) won again with the British squad, which she abandoned in 2018 to go through Deceuninck and Cofidis, and she did it by showing off the sprint in the group of favorites who decided the stage with a select breakaway and distant, in a fast day and affected by the strong wind.
The second place corresponded to the Belgian Sep Vanmarcke (Israel Premier Tech), and the third to double world champion on the road Julian Alaphilippe.
In the first group crossed the Colombian Nairo Quintana (Arkea), while the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz (Ineos) lost 16 seconds in the final stretch. For his part, the winner of the last edition, the Colombian from Movistar Ivan Ramiro Sosa he yielded at the finish line 11:25 minutes. Worse luck befell his teammate, the ormaiztegiarra Gorka Izagirrewho was involved in a crash and had to drop out of the race.
This Saturday the second stage between Arles and Manosque, of 180.6 km, is disputed, a medium-mountain route that will lead the positions of honor in the general classification.
Source: Eitb
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