Teunissen Takes Surprise Stage 1 Victory at 2019 Tour de France

Mike Teunissen (Jumbo-Visma) took a surprise sprint victory today at Stage 1 of the 2019 Tour de France, besting Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) to the line and to be the first to wear the yellow jersey in this year’s race.

Things were looking down for Jumbo-Visma when Dylan Groenewegen crashed out near the finish, but Teunissen made the best of the situation and transitioned from lead-out man to sprinter, he did a hell of a job of it too.

“I cannot believe it. We’ve been working for weeks, months even to bring Dylan to the stage victory, to the yellow jersey,” Teunissen said after the finish.

“At one and a half k, everything disappeared because [Groenewegen] went down in a crash. I thought, I’m still here, I’m still fresh, we can still try it, eh? I saw everyone dying in the last few meters – even Sagan, I was catching up on him. I overtook him on the line. It’s beyond imagining.”

Mike Teunissen takes a phone call from his father while mid-way through the mixed zone. ‘He wanted to say he was proud of me’ pic.twitter.com/eN9dSazOyv

— Sophie Hurcom (@sophiehurcom) July 6, 2019

Groenewegen wasn’t alone in hitting the deck. Jakob Fuglsang took a hard fall inside the final 20 kilometers, he sustained a cut near his eye and knee. He also appeared to be a little wobbly and slow going on the bike raising questions about whether he sustained a concussion. He was able to link up with several teammates and finish the day without losing time.

Sometimes, first and second place are only a few cm apart, that's cycling. I didn't get the victory and first Maillot Jaune today but I'm satisfied with my form and the strong work by everybody at @BORAhansgrohe. @letour is long, we'll fight every day! https://t.co/pB8zvN9QaR

— Peter Sagan (@petosagan) July 6, 2019

2019 Tour de France Results

Stage 1 Results   »   Brussels €º Brussels

General Classification Standings