Tour of the Alps 2022: Bouchard solos to first leaders jersey

Tour of the Alps 2022: Bouchard solos to first leader’s jersey

image: Cor VosGeoffrey Bouchard solos to victory from the breakaway. The Frenchman is the first GC leader, while Pello Bilbao outguns Romain Bardet in the sprint for second place. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 1st stage 2022 Tour of the Alps

1. Geoffrey Bouchard (fra)
2. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 0.05
3. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
4. Vincenzo Albanese (ita) s.t.
5. Felix Gall (aut) s.t.
6. Natnael Tesfazion (eri) s.t.
7. Richie Porte (aus) s.t.
8. Pavel Sivakov (fra) s.t.
9. Michael Storer (aus) s.t.
10. Jonathan Caicedo (ecu) s.t.

GC after stage 1
1. Geoffrey Bouchard (fra)
2. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 0.09
3. Romain Bardet (fra) + 0.11
4. Vincenzo Albanese (ita) + 0.15
5. Felix Gall (aut) s.t.
6. Natnael Tesfazion (eri) s.t.
7. Richie Porte (aus) s.t.
8. Pavel Sivakov (fra) s.t.
9. Michael Storer (aus) s.t.
10. Jonathan Caicedo (ecu) s.t.

Race report
In a fast opening the break takes shape after 25 kilometres. Bais, Bouchard, Etxeberria, Rangel, Zangerle and Zwiehoff race out a lead of almost 8 minutes.

Bouchard and Zwiehoff are the remaining attackers on the Passo Brocon. The duo reaches the summit almost 4 minutes ahead of the peloton.

Bais and Etxeberria make it back to the front on descent before they are dropped again on the Passo Gobbera. Bouchard heads out alone in the last kilometre of the climb.

While Bais and Etxeberria rejoin Zwiehoff again on descent, Bouchard opens up a gap of almost 1 minute.

The peloton reels in the chasers with 7 kilometres to go before Porte launches several attacks on a small climb inside the last 3 kilometres. Bouchard struggles, but forges on to cross the line 5 seconds before the charging peloton.

Bilbao outsprints Bardet in the battle for bonus seconds and finishes in second.

Another interesting read: route 1st stage 2022 Tour of the Alps.