2024 Tour de France Stage 1 | Highlights

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The 2024 Tour de France kicked off in spectacular fashion, with Team DSM-firmenich PostNL delivering a tactical masterclass on the opening stage. In a breathtaking display of teamwork and sheer determination, Romain Bardet and Frank van den Broek crossed the finish line together, securing an impressive one-two finish and catapulting Bardet into the coveted yellow jersey.

The stage began with the team’s clear strategy: be aggressive, be in the breakaways, and make their presence felt. Right from the start, the DSM-firmenich PostNL squad ensured they were represented in every significant move. The effort paid off when Frank van den Broek, in his first-ever Tour de France stage, made it into the day’s crucial breakaway. As the group established a sizeable lead, the peloton, sensing danger, increased the tempo, closing the gap as the race approached the final climbs.

Meanwhile, in the main bunch, DSM-firmenich PostNL’s climbers were well-positioned, thanks to the strong support from their teammates. Then, in a move that would make any team director proud, Bardet launched a powerful attack, bridging across to Van den Broek in the breakaway. This strategic masterstroke set the stage for their combined effort to fend off the chasing peloton.

With the breakaway group dwindling under their relentless pace, Bardet and Van den Broek pushed on, sharing the workload and supporting each other all the way. As the peloton bore down on them in the final kilometers, it became a thrilling race against time. In a nail-biting finish, Bardet crossed the line first, with Van den Broek right behind him, securing a DSM-firmenich PostNL one-two and a dream start to the Tour.

Romain Bardet, visibly emotional, described the victory as beyond his wildest dreams. “It’s hard to describe. I couldn’t really dream to achieve something like this. We just raced our bikes today and went for it as a team. With the way the route was and how Frank, Oscar, and the rest of the team rode today, big respect and fair play to them. We just wanted to have fun and ride our bikes like there was no tomorrow. Frank is a true gentleman; half of this jersey belongs to him. We’ll enjoy this as a team; it’s the perfect start to the race for us.”

With this victory, Bardet dons the yellow jersey, while Van den Broek leads both the green and young rider classifications, and also took the most combative rider award for stage one. This extraordinary achievement sets the tone for what promises to be an exciting Tour de France.

As the race progresses, the team’s performance on this opening stage will be remembered as a masterclass in strategy and execution. Whether they can maintain this momentum throughout the Tour remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: DSM-firmenich PostNL has announced its presence in style, and the rest of the peloton will undoubtedly be on high alert.

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