The new and original formula of a prelude that launched the event in a dynamic way while serving as a support for the official presentation of the teams was a great success on Thursday evening in La Roche-sur-Yon.
The short team time trial (3.9 km) in the streets of the Vendée prefecture only had an impact on the team classification, but the twenty-seven teams that took part played the game to the full. As proof, the victorious Dutch won at an average speed of 60.6 km/hour!
The exercise was motivated by the attribution of the first leader jerseys and it was Loe Van Belle, the first Dutch rider to cross the line, who took the yellow jersey. He is also the best young rider.
Norwegian Sören Waerenskjold, who won the individual prologue last year in Charleville-Mézières, wears the green jersey this time thanks to the second place of his team, whereas Great-Britain, 3rd, allows Samuel Watson to distinguish himself with the polka dot jersey.
No gap is retained for the general classification and the 1st stage around La Roche-sur-Yon will probably be a good opportunity for sprinters.
