Avallon
131 km
Saturday 6 September
Stage 1: Chalette-sur-Loing – Avallon. 131 km. Start at 1:11 PM. 111 riders at the start. Kosyakov wins after a very long breakaway of 109 kilometres alongside Thire. The Russian captures the yellow and green jerseys while Thire claims the polka dot jersey.
Until kilometre 22, the pack remained bunched. That was the moment chosen by Kosyakov (RUS) and Thire (FRB) to break away. Both men gradually increased their advantage. They reached the first intermediate sprint at Villiers Saint-Benoît (km 46,5), with Kosyakov ahead of Thire as the pack led by Van Winden (NED) remained a maximum 9’25’’ adrift.
The Estonia team then decided to move up to the front of the pack and organised the chase. At the second intermediate sprint at Toucy (km 54,5), Thire beat Kosyakov as the gap had dropped to 8’30 on a pack led by Klemme (GER). Still under the influence of the Estonian riders, the front men’s advantage was of only 5’10 with 30 kilometres to go. But both escapees kept up their good pace and enjoyed a 5’ lead at the third and final intermediate sprint at Saint-Père (km 117) won by Thire ahead of Kosyakov and Wiss (SUI).
At the top of the Côte de Fontette (Cat 3, km 120), Thire claimed the most points ahead of Kosyakov. Eggli (SUI) led the pack at 4’05’’, while yellow jersey Amador (CRC) claimed fourth spot at the top. In the downhill portion the leaders’ advantage dropped down. They took on the last difficulty 3’30 lead. Under the last kilometre mark, the pack was 3’ away. Kosyakov produced a first effort before totally dropping Thire in the final 200m. The Russian claimed the stage and captured the yellow and green jerseys. Thire second had to settle for the polka dot jersey leadership.
"I’m a bit disappointed not to have won the stage after such a long breakaway. But the Russian was just too strong. But on the other hand I’m happy to claim the polka dot jersey because it was my goal for the day. It’s a nice reward”.