Tour of the Alps 2018 Stage 1: Pello Bilbao wins after late attack

The 1st stage of the Tour of the Alps travels over two intermediate climbs to finish on a 800 metres slope at 6.4%. Pello Bilbao brings a late attack home to take the first leader's jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 1st stage Tour of the Alps 2018

1. Pello Bilbao (spa)
2. Luis León Sánchez (spa) + 0.06
3. Ivan Ramiro Sosa (col) s.t.
4. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 0.10
5. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.
6. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) s.t.
7. George Bennett (nzl) s.t.
8. Giulio Ciccone (ita) s.t.
9. Ben Hermans (bel) s.t.
10. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.14

GC after the 1st stage
1. Pello Bilbao (spa)
2. Luis León Sánchez (spa) + 0.10
3. Ivan Ramiro Sosa (col) + 0.12
4. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 0.20
5. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.
6. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) s.t.
7. George Bennett (nzl) s.t.
8. Giulio Ciccone (ita) s.t.
9. Ben Hermans (bel) s.t.
10. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.24

Race report
At km 15 Saramotins, Berhane, Rybalkin, Ballerini, Krizek, Eenkhoorn, Bou Company, Friedrich and Turrin jump clear. Berhane is the fist rider to reach Valico di Andalo ahead of Krizek and Ballerini. Back in the valley the leaders are 3 minutes adrift and the gap hovers there for quite a while.

On the the second climb, to Serrada, the front group is down to five riders: Berhane, Bou Company, Krizek, Turrin and Ballerini, but they are brought back 5 kms before the top. Then Sebastien Reichenbach strikes, but Giulio Ciccone goes on the counter-attack. He is first to reach the crest, shortly followed by Froome, Pinot, Pozzovivo and Bennett.

On descent it all comes together before Pello Bibao attacks. The Basque holds off the chasers on the uphill stretch to the line. His team-mate Luis León Sánchez bests Ivan Ramiro Sosa in a two-up sprint, while Thibaut Pinot is the fastest GC-favourite. No time bonus for the Frenchman though, as he finishes in fourth.

Fabio Aru can’t follow the pace in the finale. He crosses the line 4 seconds behind the group Pinot/Froome.