On a day with many climbs, Tobias Foss sprinted to victory and took the leader’s jersey in the first stage of the Tour of the Alps 2024 from a reduced peloton, in which Esteban Chaves managed to give Colombian cycling a new podium to celebrate with third place.
A group of seven riders, including Mattia Bais and Simon Pellaud, broke away on the first climb of the day and formed a breakaway. However, as the race approached the foot of the final climb of the day, only Bais and his Polti-Kometa teammate Andrea Garosio remained in the lead, some 50 seconds ahead of a peloton that was certainly coming alive.
With just over 20 kilometers to go, the peloton finally engulfed the leading duo. While Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale set a strong pace at the front, the peloton split dramatically behind as it approached the top of the final climb and the subsequent descent to the finish line.
Despite all the work by Decathlon, it was Romain Bardet who looked to take advantage and attacked the descent, opening up a few gaps on his wheel. By the flat, only six riders remained at the front of the race.
Alongside Bardet, Geraint Thomas, Chris Harper, Antonio Tiberi, Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier and Esteban Chaves. With just over 9km to go, five others joined them at the front: Ben O’Connor, Tobias Foss, Wout Poels, Valentin Paret-Peintre and Juanpe Lopez.
However, the cooperation was not brilliant and some riders refused to pull. With another chasing group just 14 seconds behind going into the final 5 kilometers the lack of commitment from some in the lead group seemed to be proving costly.
By the final kilometer, the attack had increased the gap to 22 seconds and caused a small split in the lead group. In the sprint for the finish line, Chris Harper opened the gap, but Tobias Foss took his first win in the colors of INEOS Grenadiers. Chaves was third.
Source: www.ciclismoaldia.com y Revista Mundo Ciclístico