View of the Mont Blanc near the Italian- French Border

Foreword Dany: Have been following Darren since he was a 12-year-old boy, mostly in the off-road section, seeing him becoming an adult, and growing into something special, coached by Stephen Gallagher (Dig Deep Coaching) he has developed enormous, and with Axel Merckx as DS looking after him, he starts climbing the ladder of success. A humble young lad from Coalisland, supported by his family, which has 2 more talented cyclists, and another one very soon, his brother Adam racing in France as a junior (and BP bursary holder 2022), and Aliyah his younger sister, selected for the European Youth Olympics in Slovakia next week…His mum and dad must be so proud of what their kids are achieving, not forgetting where it all started with Island Wheelers…Whatever happens from now… your hard work, character, and talent will reap a rich harvest…Well done Darren!!

Stage 1 Results and GC (no bonus times awarded due to mountain finish)
1st. HOLLYMAN Mason Israel Cycling Academy in 2:13:57
2nd. MARTINEZ Lenny Equipe continentale Groupama-FDJ @0:52
3rd. RAFFERTY Darren Hagens Berman Axeon @1:11
4th. THOMPSON Reuben Equipe continentale Groupama-FDJ @1:15
5th. ONLEY Oscar Development Team DSM @1:21
6th. RACCANI Simone Italy @s/t
7th. BERHE Welay Hagos EF Education-NIPPO Development Team @s/t
8th. PORTER Rudy Trinity Racing @1:23
9th. CIUCCARELLI Riccardo Italy @2:06
10th. TOLIO Alex Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè @2:07
68th. O’CONNOR Ronan Team Colpack Ballan @9:09
82nd. McCambridge Kevin Trinity Racing @10:10

Darren (left) in the attack and establishing the winning break

Youth Jersey GC
1st. MARTINEZ Lenny Equipe continentale Groupama-FDJ in 2:14:49
2nd. RAFFERTY Darren Hagens Berman Axeon @0:19
3rd. PICKERING Finlay Equipe continentale Groupama-FDJ @1:15
Point GC
1st. HOLLYMAN Mason Israel Cycling Academy 15
2nd. MARTINEZ Lenny Equipe continentale Groupama-FDJ 12
3rd. RAFFERTY Darren Hagens Berman Axeon 10
KOM GC
1st. HOLLYMAN Mason Israel Cycling Academy 8
2nd. RAFFERTY Darren Hagens Berman Axeon 6
3rd MARTINEZ Lenny Equipe continentale Groupama-FDJ 4
4th. BERHE Welay Hagos EF Education-NIPPO Development/Team 2

Maglia Sprint Catch Jersey: Darren Rafferty -Hagens Berman Axeon (Irl)