The opening stage of the Renewi Tour provided a chaotic start to the race. Rain made the conditions difficult, and a crash around 15km to go split the peloton, which likely complicated the tactical approach for the remaining distance. It was impressive to see the breakaway hold a 15-second lead with 2km to go, only to be caught inside the final kilometer.
The finish itself was a messy affair. Milan won the stage by a photo-finish from Kooij, while Merlier and Philipsen took third and fourth respectively. When you have a result decided by such a thin margin in a frantic bunch sprint, it is hard to tell how much is raw speed and how much is simply the luck of the positioning in a chaotic finale.
From a safety perspective, these high-speed drag races are always a concern, especially when the conditions are poor. The tension in the peloton during that final kilometer was palpable as the gap to the break vanished and the sprinters fought for the wheel.
Is Milan's victory over Kooij in this photo-finish a reliable measure of the current sprinter hierarchy, or was it too dependent on the conditions and chaos of the day?
Additionally, how much do you think the split caused by the crash at 15km to go will influence the general classification strategy as the race moves into the harder stages?