Kristoff claims his seventh win of the year

After a successful Vuelta campaign, UAE Team Emirates have continued their winning ways in Slovakia .
Alexander Kristoff sprinted home for the victory on the opening stage of the Tour de Slovaquie (138.2 kilometers with start and finish in Bardejov), ahead of the Deceuninck-Quick Step duo of Michael Morkov and Elia Viviani.

The bunch controlled the escape of six men who had taken an early lead, not allowing them more than two minutes.
With 10 km to go it all came back together, with the sprinters’ teams rounding their troops together for the final sprint, which finished on a cobbled uphill rise, which suited the Norwegian rider perfectly (Photo Tour of Slovakia) and saw him seize his 7th success of the season, the 27th for UAE Team Emirates.

Alexander Kristoff described the winning sprint: “I managed to get on Viviani’s wheel just before entering the cobbled section.
Deceuninck-Quick Step had three men to lead the group, so I started from the fourth position, trying to come around.
I immediately had a good kick and I passed them all, and held to the finish. “

Stage 1 results – (Split stage)
1 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Emirates UAE 3h21’48 “
2 Michael Morkov (Den) Deceuninck-Quick Step st
3 Elia Viviani (Ita) Quick Step st-Deceuninck

In the afternoon, there was an individual time trial (stage 1-B ) of 7.4 kilometers, also held in Bardejov.
On a flat course, Tom Bohli stopped the clock 12 seconds off that of the winner Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ), finishing in 6th place.
There was misfortune for Kristoff who fell on a bend, though the Norwegian would hold on to the points jersey with the GC leadership going to Stefan Kung.

Next up in the Tour de Slovaquie is a long sage of 226.6 km from Bardejov to Ruzomberok, with two Cat.1 and two Cat.2 climbs all coming in the first sector of the race.

Stage 1- split stage b TT
1 Stefan Kung (Sui) Groupama-FDJ 9’03 ”
2 Yves Lampaert (Bel) Quick Step-Deceuninck 3 ”
3 Bob Jungels (Lux) Deceuninck-Quick Step 8 ”
6 Tom Bohli (Sui) UAE Emirates Team 12 “

General classification
1 Stefan Kung (Sui) Groupama-FDJ 3h30’52 ”
2 Yves Lampaert (Bel) Quick Step-Deceuninck 3 ”
3 Bob Jungels (Lux) Deceuninck-Quick Step 8 ”
6 Tom Bohli (Sui) UAE Emirates Team 12 “