Unfortunate start at Tour de Loir et Cher – five Team Vorarlberg pros crashed!
Almost the entire team Vorarlberg down – chaotic start of the Tour de Loir et Cher in France!
This is not how you imagined the start of the five-day tour. Five out of six riders of Team Vorarlberg had to go to French ground today. In the very hectic race over 146 kilometers from Blois to Chailles, the April weather held what it often promises. Gusty wind and rain were the cause of many crashes.
Only Lukas Rüegg kept himself free of crashes today. All the others had to go down but could finish the race. Jon Knolle got it the hardest with a cut on his knee, fought his way to the finish before the final car and was awarded as the most combative rider.
Three riders saved themselves as a trio to the finish. Behind them, the first group crossed the finish line. With them Lukas Rüegg, Pirmin Benz and Lukas Meiler. The winner was Tim Marsman (Team Metec) from the Netherlands. Now it’s time to lick wounds and look ahead to tomorrow.
This leads from Sassay to Selommes (163.5 km).
Result: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-du-loir-et-cher-e.-provost-/2023/stage-1
Squad:
Lukas Meiler, Dominik Amann, Colin Stüssi, Lukas Rüegg, Pirmin Benz, Jon Knolle