Crash finale deprives Alexander Konychev of top result on first Tour du Loir et Cher stage in France
Crash orgies on the first stage of the 63rd Tour du Loir et Cher UCI 2.2 prevent top result – Konychev as (un)lucky rider in eleventh place
The first stage of the 63rd edition of the Tour du Loir et Cher from Blois to Vineuil got down to business straight away. On the 183-kilometer section, everything seemed to be made for a planned sprint finale.
The first crash in the field 3000 meters before the finish. Team Vorarlberg newcomer Alexander Konychev pulls away at the front and opens the sprint of the remaining peloton. 300 meters before the finish, an opponent touches him from behind at top speed. The BMC frame breaks, Konychev has to get off the pedals and is lucky to avoid a fall. But behind them, the doorbell rings again.
The winner was the Belgian Van de Wynkele (Lotto-Dstny). Konychev still manages to cross the finish line in eleventh place!
“It’s incredible how some riders risk their lives and stick their handlebars in where there’s no room. Today we were just lucky that Alexander wasn’t completely taken off his bike in the sprint. Of course the result would have been possible today, but we have to be happy that no one had to go to hospital and everyone came through safely. Some of the guys looked really bad!” Werner Salmen – Sports Director
Result: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-du-loir-et-cher/2024/stage-1
Info start list: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-du-loir-et-cher/2024/startlist
Line-up Team Vorarlberg: Dominik Amann, Nikolas Riegler, Jannis Peter, Jon Knolle, Pirmin Benz, Alexander Konychev;
Press Service Team Vorarlberg