Renewi Tour: Milan sprints to victory in the first stage!

Jonathan Milan (Lidl Trek) wins the first stage of the Renewi Tour, starting and finishing in Diest (191.1 km).

There were five attackers in the first hour, with Hermans, Taminiaux, De Bondt, Kielich and Bevort taking the lead, on a very difficult day due to the weather conditions, with heavy rain accompanying the riders for the entire stage.

The group tries to control the breakaway, which however manages to reach the golden kilometer area with a margin of over 1 minute and with time bonuses that consequently are not taken by the potential men in the general classification.

On the final lap, Red Bull was leading the pack, but Vermeersch attempted to get away on the circuit's only uphill climb. His attempt was quickly stopped, but the five leaders still held a 20-second lead with 5 km to go.

The peloton only managed to rejoin the final few hundred meters, with the five leaders losing agreement right at the crucial moment; Milan got off to a strong start in the middle of the road, held off Kooij 's comeback, and won the first stage. Merlier took third place ahead of Philipsen.

ORDER OF ARRIVAL

1 Milan Jonathan Lidl - Trek

2 Kooij Olav Decathlon CMA CGM Team

3 Merlier Tim Soudal Quick-Step

4 Philipsen Jasper Alpecin - Premier Tech

5 Bennett Sam Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team

6 Welsford Sam Netcompany INEOS

7 Bittner Pavel Team Picnic PostNL

8 Groenewegen Dylan Unibet Rose Rockets

9 Van Asbroeck Tom NSN Cycling Team

10 De Lie Arnaud Lot Intermarché