This years Tour Alsace kicks off with a team time trial

The 17th edition of Tour Alsace prologue started yesterday evening with a 3-man team time trial over 4.3 kilometers. Both rider groups of Team Vorarlberg came in with a strong result in the middle field on the technically demanding course.

Alexis Guerin beaten in the final sprint – 500 meters before the finish line – Roland Thalmann finished with a 15th rank

Today’s stage with over 163 kilometers led from Colmar Unterlinden to Altkirch. The 26 professional teams at the start all had to conquer 1,465 meters in altitude. After the first 10 kilometers, a group of five broke away and were able to gain a seven-minute advantage over the peloton. After about 130 kilometers, the peloton broke away and after a further 153 kilometers into the race, another strong group could set themselves off on the final climb, with Team Vorarlberg rider Alexis Guerin among the group. In the following final sprint, however, he was dropped 500 meters before the finish line and ended up in 25^th  place. The rest of the team came in strong in the front field at the end of the race. Roland Thalmann finished with a strong 15^th rank.

Arnaud De Lie (BEL/Lotto Soudal U23) won ahead of the Frenchman Théo Menant (Vendée U) and Ben Turner (UK/Trinity Racing).

Result: https://bit.ly/3y0QelY

 

Tomorrow’s third stage leads from Vesoul to La Planche des Belles Filles (143 kilometers).

Stages:

21.07. Team Trial | Sausheim-Sausheim | 4.3 km

22.07. Colmar – Altkirch | 163.1 km

23.07. Vesoul – La Planche des Belles Filles | 143.1 km

24.07. Ribeauvillé – Lac Blanc | 161.3 km

25.07. Mulhouse – Berrwiller | 153.6 km

Squad: Roland Thalmann, Alexis Guerin, Markus Wildauer, Colin Stüssi, Maximilian Kuen, Adrià Moreno

Pictures: havchl.pictures / Elisa Hausmesser