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Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis) will have deserved his polka dot jersey! Left in the breakaway of the first stage of Tour de Francethe Frenchman went to the top at the top of the Côte de Notre-Dame-de-Lorette (1 km at 7.3 %) before being taken up by the peloton. The former winner on the Italian Tour Then came out with Matteo Vorcher (Totalnergies) to take the second point Ausommet from Mont Cassel (1.8 km at 3.8 %) but even if the runner of the Cofidis managed to go to the lead, his bicycle throw will have caused him a fall, causing his escaped colleague with him. “Nothing very important” According to the first polka dot jersey of Tour de France.

Video – Cédric Vasseur, boss of Cofidis, before the start of the Tour

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“This is what had been defined in the briefing”

According to Benjamin Thomastaking the breakaway to wear the polka dot jersey was what was planned at the briefing. Despite the presence of Bryan Coquard who could have played a role in the final, the team Cofidis wanted to be: “It is a great happiness, since this was what had been defined in the briefing with the team. I had carte blanche to take the breakaway. Once I took the first point, I needed a second to ensure the polka dot jersey, and it was played on Mount Cassel. It is a place that I know well since we often spend there with the four days of Dunkirk. And yet I attacked too early, Matteo came back. Sprinte always seated but at the time of the bicycle throw, I unbalanced myself, my front wheel left and we fell, I did not even know if I had passed the first!

Nevertheless, what was undoubtedly less planned is this fall by the top of Mont Cassel, which should not however impact too much Tour de France : “I have a little harm and I'm going to have aches for two or three days, but nothing very important. This is my first climbing jersey, whatever the race, so I'm very happy. And of course that of the Tour is mythical. We will see tomorrow if it is profitable to take the escape, but I would like to keep it.”

Tour de France – ranking of the 1st stage

Tour de France – Provisional general classification after the 1st stage

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