Tour de Pologne 2020: Horror crash marks 1st stage

The Tour de Pologne opens with a horrible crash in the finale of stage 1. Groenewegen rides Jakobsen into the barriers and several riders, including Groenewegen, go down hard. Jakobsen is declared winner, although he suffers terrible injuries. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 1st stage Tour de Pologne

1. Fabio Jakobsen (nld)
2. Marc Sarreau (fra) s.t.
3. Luka Mezgec (slo) s.t.
4. Jasper Philipsen (bel) s.t.
5. Ryan Gibbons (rsa) s.t.
6. Szymon Sajnok (pol) s.t.
7. Damien Touzé (fra) s.t.
8. Roger Kluge (ger) s.t.
9. Moreno Hofland (nld) s.t.
10. Edward Theuns (bel) s.t.

GC after stage 1

1. Fabio Jakobsen (nld)
2. Marc Sarreau (fra) + 0.04
3. Kamil Malecki (pol) s.t.
4. Luka Mezgec (slo) + 0.06
5. Jasper Philipsen (bel) + 0.10
6. Ryan Gibbons (rsa) s.t.
7. Szymon Sajnok (pol) s.t.
8. Damien Touzé (fra) s.t.
9. Roger Kluge (ger) s.t.
10. Moreno Hofland (nld) s.t.

Race report
Kamil Małecki, Julius van den Berg, Samuel Brand and Maciej Paterski jump clear in the early stages of the race. The four race to a lead of more than 4 minutes before the peloton takes them on a leash.

The attackers are brought back inside the last 16 kilometres.

In the high speed finish Dylan Groenewegen is heading for victory when Fabio Jakobsen pops up on his right side. The Dutchman closes the door on the Dutchman and they both crash horribly hard. Groenewegen after the finish line, while Jakobsen flies over the barriers.

Groenewegen takes half a dozen riders down with him. Marc Sarreau, Jasper Philipsen, Damien Touze and Eduard Prades are among them, while Jakobsen is the worst affected. He is airlifted to hospital in a serious condition.

Afterwards the Dutchman is disqualified and Jakobsen is declared the winner. Which is strange, as he did not cross the line. Marc Sarreau did. The Frenchman, second on the stage, suffers damage to the ligaments in his shoulder and will not continue the Tour of Poland.

Another interesting read: route 1st stage 2020 Tour de Pologne.