Averaging 55.45 kilometers an hour over the 13.8-km course, Rohan Dennis (BMC Racing Team) won the stage 1 individual time trial in Utrecht, finishing 5 seconds ahead of Tony Martin (Etixx-QuickStep) and 6 seconds faster than Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing).
It was nerve-wracking watching the screen. I didn’t expect to go that fast time-wise. When I got to back to the bus, I was told that it was the quickest time trial by my friend back in Adelaide. So that was a nice little bonus, you could say.
We went with the tactic of going off early – there’s no stress, you don’t have to sit around all day – just set a benchmark and make everyone else chase me. It worked out perfectly. Tour de France … yellow jersey … it’s a dream. I have always wished to be in this position and now I am.”
– Rohan Dennis, BMC Racing Team
I knew starting the Tour de France with this time trial was a great chance for myself and the team to possibly wear the yellow jersey in Utrecht. I did the best preparation possible to be at this race at 100 percent. I had great support from the team and the staff around me, so I could really focus on the race. But today I was struggling a little bit with the heat. It was not easy to warm up on the rollers and then riding 15 minutes in the heat. Even in the second half I was already tired. I’m used to warming up after 5 to 7 kilometers, and then my race starts.
But today I couldn’t really change rhythm. I was doing my best to go until the finish. I am sure in different weather circumstances I could do better. Still, considering everything, to still finish 2nd I am happy about it. I always want to win, but today I found a great Rohan Dennis who deserved the victory. There is still a big opportunity for yellow in the next days. Everyone knows this first week will be crazy and we have for sure one of the strongest and best teams for the parcours of the next days. So, yes, I am disappointed, but the Tour de France has only just begun. I have a great team around me that will further boost my morale, for sure.”
– Tony Martin, Etixx-QuickStep
It was quite a heat and my mouth was so dry at halfway already. It was hard to get a deep breath at times, I couldn’t swallow. But for one, it shows I am in progression from where I was two weeks ago. Of course, I came here to get yellow, and so in that way it’s kind of a disappointment. But, on the other hand, I did a good performance. I am not sure where I could give more; maybe if the wind was less before, I don’t know, you can make a lot of speculation. In the end, it is how it is.
Of course I don’t look yet to tomorrow, first I need to get over the day, the disappointment. I expected something higher, something bigger. But that’s sport. I don’t feel like I have anything to prove, I have already proved many, many years of big things. People expect me to perform on days like today where I am a specialist. But for having a perfect day you need more, and I was not having a perfect day, and for me the heat cut my performance. This is not an excuse, but the reality.”
– Fabian Cancellara, Trek Factory Racing
Tour de France 2015 Stage 1 ITT Top 10
- Rohan Dennis (AUS) #63
BMC RACING TEAM 14 ’56” - Tony Martin (GER) #114
ETIXX-QUICK STEP 15 ’01” + :05 - Fabian Cancellara (SUI) #143
TREK FACTORY RACING 15 ’02” + :06 - Tom Dumoulin (NED) #85
TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN 15 ’04” + :08 - Jos Van Emden (NED )#138
LOTTO TEAM NL – JUMBO 15 ’11” +:15 - Jonathan Castroviejo (ESP) #53
MOVISTAR TEAM 15 ’19” + :23 - Matthias Brändle (AUT ) #182
IAM CYCLING 15 ’19’ ‘ + :23 - Adriano Malori (ITA) #58
MOVISTAR TEAM 15 ’25″+ :29 - Wilco Kelderman (NED) #132
LOTTO TEAM NL – JUMBO 15 ’26” +:30 - Stephen Cummings (GBR) #212
MTN-Qhubeka 15 ’28” + :32
I rode a strong time trial, which I enjoyed but unfortunately it was not enough for the win.
I didn’t hear anything from my coach because I was riding through a wall of sound from the spectators, which was really cool.
Of course it’s very special to ride on home grounds. Right now I’m a little bit disappointed so I’m not the most enjoyable person to be around.”
– Tom Dumoulin, Team Giant-Alpecin
Tour de France 2015 Jerseys after Stage 1
Yellow (Overall leader):Rohan Dennis, BMC Racing Team
Green (Points): Rohan Dennis, BMC Racing Team
Worn by Tony Martin, Etixx-QuickStep
Polka-dot (KOM): Not awarded
White (Best Young Rider): Rohan Dennis, BMC Racing Team
Worn by Tom Dumoulin, Team Giant-Alpecin
Stage 1 Individual Time Trial
Date: 4 July, 2015
Start: Utrecht
Finish: Utrecht
Distance: 14 km
Tour de France 2015 Stage 1 route
Tour de France 2015 Stage 1 route map
Tour de France 2015 Stage 1 profile
Maps courtesy of Le Tour de France / © A.S.O.
Disclosure & disclaimer: The content & opinions expressed are entirely our own. Reviews are opinion only and Chasing Light Media accepts no responsibility for how the information is used. Some posts on this website may contain links to our partners’ websites and Chasing Light Media may be compensated by those partners.
