Avio Jacobsen avoided the chaotic finish pitfalls of the Tour de France Stage 2 and won a moving victory in Nyborg, Denmark.
Jacobsen, who made his tour debut less than two years after suffering a life-threatening injury from a crash on the Polish tour, went around Maspedason and defeated Wout van Aert at the end of the stage 202.5 km from Roskilde. , Avoided slow spills. -A person who comforted with a yellow jersey.
The day was designed for fireworks to be launched at the 18 km long Great Belt Bridge in the finale, but after Peloton returned to dry land, a crash blocked the road within the last 3 km. , A selected group of sprinters who disagree with honor.
For the QuickStep-Alpha Vinyl team, it was a victory on the second stage in a few days. Jacobsen’s victory silenced critics who questioned the decision to choose the Dutch ahead of Mark Cavendish, the winner of the four stages and the final green jersey. This year’s tour.
However, Friday’s opening time trial winner Yves Lampaert admitted yellow to Van Earl, who won 6 bonus seconds in 2nd place to clear the 5 second deficit 24 hours ago.
The Belgians are now one second ahead of their compatriot Lampaert, and defending champion Tadej Pogačar was hit by a late spill, but was spared time given what happened within the last three kilometers.
Several Ineos Grenadier riders were delayed in the crash as Dani Martinez and Filippo Ganna fell, but Geraint Thomas avoided crossing the line shortly after Jacobsen. Welshman remains off-yellow for 26 seconds on the 18th.
At the end of a tense day, the widest smile belonged to Jacobsen, who was placed in an induced coma less than two years ago after suffering a catalog of injuries including brain trauma after a high-speed collision in Poland. ..
He returned to the race last April and finished the season with three stages and point classifications at Vuelta a Espana, which was the greatest glory of his comeback.
“Today was’incredible'(incredible) as it is in French,” he said. “For me, it’s a long process, and step by step, many people have helped me in the process.
“This is to repay them and make sure it wasn’t in vain. I still enjoy riding and racing bikes, and I can still win I’m lucky. “
Tour director Christian Prudom wasn’t in the way to make this stage as tense as possible for everyone involved. Local organizers suggested a finish line 20 kilometers away, but Pludom wanted the Great Belt Bridge and the threat of crosswinds to characterize its approach to the line.
These crosswinds didn’t really happen, rather than the rider finally heading straight for the headwind, but the mere threat kept high tension all day and the rider was grateful for the successful finish. increase.
“It was rough and stressful, but I think we definitely got worse,” said Thomas.
“I knew the wind direction on the bridge wasn’t that dangerous, but everyone still wanted to be in front of me. The boys took care of me. (Adam) Yates and Dani (Martinez) . “
Van Aert’s goal on this tour is green, but he was happy to accept his teammate Primož Roglič’s ultimate goal, the yellow jersey.
“This is my fourth Tour de France, but it feels like” finally “,” said the 27-year-old. “I’ve been looking for this for a few years now and I’m really happy because it’s that day.”