‘We tested the legs a little bit’ – Tadej Pogačar pleased with Tour de France opener despite no time gains

Much of the talk ahead of Saturday’s opening stage of the Tour de France centred on two-time winner Tadej Pogačar, his UAE Team Emirates team, and whether they would seek to test – or even deal the first blow against – primary yellow jersey rival Jonas Vingegaard.

Come the day, there wouldn’t be any major GC moves on stage 1, and certainly no sign of Pogačar putting major time into the reigning champion, who was in the peloton for the first time since his season-threatening Itzulia Basque Country crash.