Former world champion Mark Cavendish won the first stage of the 2016 Tour de France today.
The Brit, who races for South Africa’s Dimension Data team, beat Germany’s Marcel Kittel and Slovakian world champion Peter Sagan in a sprint finish after 188km of racing from Mont Saint-Michel to Utah Beach in Normandy to take this year’s first yellow jersey.
Team Dimension Data’s Mark Cavendish wins the first stage of the 2016 Tour de France. Photo: SuperSport
It was Cavendish’s 27th Tour de France stage win to add to his green jersey triumph five years ago.
“Regardless of who is there, the Tour de France is the Tour de France,” said the Isle of Man rider. “To win a stage is incredible and to put on this jersey is an honour.
“Tomorrow is going to be a special day. And what a better place than Utah Beach remembering not only the soldiers who died on D-Day, but all the people who have died fighting for our freedom in the modern world.”
Cavendish said he had built his entire career on the Tour de France and that it was an incredible honour to wear the Maillot Jaune.
Stage one results
1. Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) 4:13:55
2. Marcel Kittel (Etixx – Quick-Step) +0:04
3. Peter Sagan (Tinkoff Team) +0:06
4. André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) +0:10
5. Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo)
6. Christophe Laporte (Cofidis/Solutions Credits)
7. Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie)
8. Alexander Kristoff (Katusha)
9. Daniel Mclay (Fortuneo – Vital Concept)
10. Greg Henderson (Lotto Soudal) +0:13
Selected
48. Daryl Impey (Orica-BikeExchange) +0:32
123. Louis Meintjes (Lampre – Merida) +1:00
149. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (Dimension Data) +1:23
General classification
1. Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) 4:13:55
2. Marcel Kittel (Etixx – Quick-Step) +0:04
3. Peter Sagan (Tinkoff Team) +0:06
4. André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) +0:10
5. Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo)
6. Christophe Laporte (Cofidis/Solutions Credits)
7. Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie)
8. Alexander Kristoff (Katusha)
9. Daniel Mclay (Fortuneo – Vital Concept)
10. Greg Henderson (Lotto Soudal) +0:13
Selected
48. Daryl Impey (Orica-BikeExchange) +0:32
123. Louis Meintjes (Lampre – Merida) +1:00
149. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (Dimension Data) +1:23
Go to Tour de France for more news, results and information.
