Having recently finished fourth in the World Championships, Matti Breschel is trying to capitalize from his good form to win the Tour de l'Eurometropole. Today he scored bonus seconds on the opening stage to move into 7th in the overall standings.

The 191 kilometer long first stage of the French/Belgian stage race, Tour de l’Eurometropole finished in a bunch sprint in the town of Bellegem where Tinkoff-Saxo’s Matti Breschel finished 8th. The powerful Dane swept up a few bonus seconds along the way as well. Arnud Demare (FDJ) won the stage.

An early breakaway dominated today’s initial stage of Tour de l’Eurometropole, formerly known as Franco-Belge but with common interests in a bunch sprint, several teams joined forces to bring them back. As the stage progressed, the break shattered and only one remaining escapee, Edward Theuns (Topsport-Vlaandern) was trying to hold off the chasing peloton entering the final 30 kilometers.

However, everyone was back in the peloton as the riders rushed under the 10 kilometer banner and everything was in place for a bunch sprint. A series of attacks was launched from different teams but they all came back and in the furious sprint for the finish line, Arnaud Demare (FDJ) was the fastest of everyone. Tinkoff-Saxo’s Matti Breschel was well-protected and crossed the finish line in 8th position.

Sports director Steven De Jongh states:

“It was a rather predictable stage. When the breakaway was established, Giant-Shimano and FDJ took control of the bunch and had the escapees within sight throughout the entire day. We are supporting Matti for the stages and for the GC and today, he grabbed hold of a few bonus seconds along the way and they might be useful later on. Tomorrow, we’re heading for the coast and the wind might become a factor but I assume we’re running in to another bunch sprint."