Tour of the Alps 2024: Foss wins four-up sprint to take GC lead

foto: Cor VosEsteban Chaves strikes from a strong lead grup just before the flamme rouge. Tobias Foss, Chris Harper and Ben O'Connor follow his move and the race comes down to a four-up sprint. Foss outguns Harper and O'Connor to take the first leader's jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 1st stage 2024 Tour of the Alps

1. Tobias Foss (nor)
2. Chris Harper (aus) s.t.
3. Esteban Chaves (col) s.t.
4. Ben O’Connor (aus) s.t.
5. Juan Pedro López (spa) + 0.03
6. Geraint Thomas (gbr) s.t.
7. Antonio Tiberi (ita) s.t.
8. Amanuel Gebreigzabhier (eri) s.t.
9. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
10. Valentin Paret-Peintre (fra) s.t.

11. Wout Poels (nld) s.t.
– other GC riders + 0.34

GC after stage 1
1. Tobias Foss (nor)
2. Chris Harper (aus) + 0.04
3. Esteban Chaves (col) + 0.06
4. Ben O’Connor (aus) + 0.10
5. Juan Pedro López (spa) + 0.13
6. Geraint Thomas (gbr) s.t.
7. Antonio Tiberi (ita) s.t.
8. Amanuel Gebreigzabhier (eri) s.t.
9. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
10. Valentin Paret-Peintre (fra) s.t.

Race report
It takes around 20 kilometres for the breakaway to establish itself. Mattia Bais, Asier Etxeberria, Nicklas Ambi Pedersen, Andra Garosio, Masaki Yamamoto, Simon Pellaud and Kyrylo Tsarenko open up a lead of over 3 minutes at the Andolo climb. The lead group splits in two – with Bais, Pellaud and Garosio at the front -, while Pedersen falls back into the peloton.

The six regroup on descent to widen their lead to 4 minutes. Bais and Garosio head out together on the climb to Penone. They reach the summit 2.20 minutes ahead of the peloton. Bais takes, just as he did in Andolo, most KOM points.

The two are caught in the second run up to Penone before a reduced peloton enters the descent.

Romain Bardet attacks on descent, while Esteban Chaves and Chris Harper follow in his slipstream. Antonio Tiberi, Geraint Thomas and Amanuel Gebreigzabhier close down the gap before five more riders – Tobias Foss, Wout Poels, Ben O’Connor, Juan Pedro López, Valentin Paret-Peintre – make it across on the flat.

Esteban Chaves jumps with 1.2 kilometres left to race. Tobias Foss, Chris Haper and Ben O’Connor follow his move and it comes down to a four-up sprint. Foss powers to victory and also takes the first leader’s jersey.

Another interesting read: route 1st stage 2024 Tour of the Alps.