Alexander Kristoff wins dramatic opening race of the Tour de France

Alexander Kristoff was the strongest in the sprint and won the dramatic opening race of this year’s postponed Tour de France in Nice.

Therefore, he will wear the yellow leader jersey during Sunday’s race.

Rain and many accidents marked the first stage of this year’s Tour de France. At the 3-kilometer mark there was a large crash that split the field. But since the crash happened with less than 3 kilometers left the cyclists that fell will end with the same time as the winner.

Earlier in the race there were crashes involving last year’s fifth place Julian Alaphilippe, newly crowned European champion Giacomo Nizzolo and Astana-captain Miguel Ángel López. After the last mentioned López crashed, with fifty kilometers left, the field calmed noticeably down.

The Swiss Micheal Schär and the Frenchmenn Fabin Grellier and Cyril Gautier who comprised the race’s first break-away, were however reeled inn with 59km left after the last categorized climb.

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today