Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) took victory on the opening stage of the Tour of Slovakia, taking the race lead as he beat the Deceuninck-QuickStep duo of Michael Mørkøv and Elia Viviani in a bunch sprint.
Groupama-FDJ and Deceuninck-QuickStep controlled the stage, the first of two on Wednesday, for much of the day, ensuring that the early break wouldn't stay away to contest the finish.
The six-man break got away early on, with Rasmus Bøgh Wallin (Riwal Readynez), Alexandre Delletre (Delko Marseille Provence), Erik Fetter (Pannon Cycling Team), Florian Kierner (Felbermayr-Simplon), Kenny Molly (Wallonie-Bruxelles), and Anders Skaarseth (Uno-X) making up the day's main break.
The sextet were brought back 10km before the finish, setting up a sprint finish on the cobbled streets of Bardejov. Despite Deceuninck-QuickStep's strength in numberes and fearsome lead-out train, it was Kristoff who powered to victory, his seventh of the season.
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates | 3:21:48 |
| 2 | Michael Mørkøv (Den) Deceuninck-QuickStep | |
| 3 | Elia Viviani (Ita) Deceuninck-QuickStep | |
| 4 | Erik Baška (Slo) Bora-Hansgrohe | |
| 5 | Arnaud Démare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ | |
| 6 | Rudy Barbier (Fra) Israel Cycling Academy | |
| 7 | Emils Liepinš (Lat) Wallonie-Bruxelles | |
| 8 | Andrea Peron (Ita) Team Novo Nordisk | 0:00:04 |
| 9 | Boy Van Poppel (Ned) Roompot-Charles | |
| 10 | Yves Lampaert (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep | 0:00:08 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates | 3:21:42 |
| 2 | Michael Mørkøv (Den) Deceuninck-QuickStep | 0:00:02 |
| 3 | Elia Viviani (Ita) Deceuninck-QuickStep | 0:00:04 |
| 4 | Erik Baška (Slo) Bora-Hansgrohe | 0:00:06 |
| 5 | Arnaud Démare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ | |
| 6 | Rudy Barbier (Fra) Israel Cycling Academy | |
| 7 | Emils Liepinš (Lat) Wallonie-Bruxelles | |
| 8 | Andrea Peron (Ita) Team Novo Nordisk | 0:00:10 |
| 9 | Boy Van Poppel (Ned) Roompot-Charles | |
| 10 | Yves Lampaert (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep | 0:00:14 |
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