The 1st stage of the Tour de France 2019 took place on July 6, 2019. The 194.5 kilometer long flat stage began and ended in Brussels and led with a large loop through the south-west of Brussels.
The start of the stage began at 12:00 p.m. on Königsplatz at the monastery church of Sint-Jacob op de Koudenberg / Saint-Jacques-sur-Coudenberg. The sharp start took place at 12:27 in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean / Sint-Jans-Molenbeek near the Edmond-Machtens-Stadion . A small leading group that formed immediately after the start dominated two thirds of the stage. The field of drivers passed the first two climbs of the tour: the wall of Geraardsbergen and the Bosberg - two classics of the Tour of Flanders . The two drivers Greg Van Avermaet and Xandro Meurisse from the top group were able to negotiate the mountain ratings among themselves. This means that Meurisse and Van Avermaet are tied on points, but since Van Avermaet won the higher category, he won the dotted jersey after the stage.
Shortly before the cobblestone passage - a few kilometers before the intermediate sprint in Les Bons Villers - the leading group was caught up again. Shortly after the field of drivers had gathered again, Stéphane Rossetto attacked about 55 km from the finish and was able to increase his lead to 1:46 min. During the stage, the drivers drove past the foot of the Lion's Hill , the main monument of the Battle of Waterloo . In honor of Eddy Merckx , the route led through Woluwe-Saint-Pierre / Sint-Pieters-Woluwe , where the Belgian professional cyclist was allowed to wear his first yellow jersey in 1969 . Rossetto was overtaken by the peloton about 10 km from the finish - his attempt to break away failed. Rossetto was awarded the red number for his escape .
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