Tour de France win "something I could never have dreamed of" for Yves Lampaert

Yves Lampaert has taken a surprising win at today's opening Tour de France stage, setting a very clear point that Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team are in the race to win. His win in the initial time-trial will see the team in yellow, heading into the sprints where Fabio Jakobsen will be a favourite to win.

“I beat the great rider Wout van Aert! I really don’t understand it … I thought I lost it every time in the corners," Lampaert said shocked after his effort. “My good time trials in the Baloise Tour and the Belgian championships had given me a lot of confidence, but I can’t believe this.”

Lampaert has for several years been a strong time-trialist, however never at the level of today's favourites Wout van Aert and Filippo Ganna. He departed as an outsider for a top result, but as he crossed the line in Copenhagen in first place towards the win it came as a shock to most.

Perhaps he took advantage of some better road state after the early rain. Nevertheless, his effort saw the Belgian ride the 13.2 kilometers in the fastest time. “The roads were still very wet, so I had the same conditions as the others," he said however.

"I'm just a farmer's son from Belgium. To do this… I never expected that. I can not believe it. I knew I was good. But to win the first stage of the Tour de France is something I could never have dreamed of. Everyone tries to cycle as fast as possible in a time trial, but to beat Van Aert, Van der Poel and Ganna… It's unbelievable," Lampaert described. He will set off into the second stage in the yellow jersey, and will get to experience what is like to lead the whole Tour de France.