10 april 2024 –
Crash orgies on the first stage of the 63rd Tour du Loir et Cher UCI 2.2 prevent top result – Konychev as (un)lucky rider in eleventh place
The first stage of the 63rd edition of the Tour du Loir et Cher from Blois to Vineuil got down to business straight away. On the 183-kilometre section, everything seemed to be set for a planned sprint finish.
The first crash in the peloton 3000 meters before the finish. Team Vorarlberg newcomer Alexander Konychev pulled away at the front and opened the sprint of the remaining peloton. 300 meters before the finish, an opponent touches him from behind at top speed. The BMC frame breaks, Konychev has to take his foot off the pedals and is lucky to avoid a crash. Behind him, however, the bell rings again.
The winner is the Belgian Van de Wynkele (Lotto-Dstny). Konychev nevertheless makes it to the finish in eleventh place!
“It’s incredible how individual riders risk their lives and stick their handlebars in where there’s no room. Today we were just lucky that Alexander wasn’t completely taken off his bike in the sprint. Of course the result would have been possible today, but we have to be happy that nobody has to go to hospital and that everyone came through safely. Some of the guys looked terrible!” Werner Salmen – Sports Director
Result: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-du-loir-et-cher/2024/stage-1
Info start list: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-du-loir-et-cher/2024/startlist
Line-up Team Vorarlberg: Dominik Amann, Nikolas Riegler, Jannis Peter, Jon Knolle, Pirmin Benz, Alexander Konychev;
Press service Team Vorarlberg
www.team-vorarlberg.at
office@proevent-cycling.at
(Copyright Photos Team Vorarlberg @Source)