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Tour de France stage 1 - Live coverage

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Tour de France stage 1 profile

(Image credit: ASO)

Welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of the 2021 Tour de France, which gets underway in the cycling heartland of Brittany with a stage that looks sure to provoke fireworks in the finale. The first man up the Côte de la Fosse aux Loup at the finish will wear the first maillot jaune of the Tour, and the list of contenders is an elite one. Men like world champion Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep), Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix), Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and Michael Matthews (BikeExchange) look sure to be in contention, but the breathless opening day of the Tour has a habit of throwing up surprises.

The peloton rolls out at 12.10 local time, and will reach kilometre zero at 12.30. There are six classified climbs on the rolling 198km stage, starting with the category 4 Côte de Trébéolin after 8.6km and concluding with that short and sharp blast up the Côte de la Fosse aux Loup at the finish.

Stephen Farrand is in Brittany and he has been sampling the atmosphere and speaking with the contenders ahead of this opening stage. His verdict? "It will be great to watch but terrible to ride." Read his full preview here

The UCI have announced that they have granted Alpecin-Fenix permission to wear their special jersey in honour of the late Raymond Poulidor on today's opening stage. The jersey echos the Mercier kit worn by Poulidor in the prime of his career, and now his grandson Mathieu van der Poel will the colours on his Tour de France debut. "It’s something special if you can wear the yellow jersey once in your career and it would be even nicer if my grandfather was still here to see it. I would have loved to be in the Tour start village with him but I’m a bit too late for that to happen," Van der Poel said in his pre-race press conference early on Friday morning. Stephen Farrand has the full story here.

Demi Vollering has won La Course by Le Tour de France, beating Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig and Marianne Vos atop the Côte de la Fosse aux Loup. Read the full report here.

The peloton is gathered on the line for the neutralised start beneath slate grey skies.

The peloton rolls out of Brest for stage 1 of the Tour de France, with world champion Julian Alaphilippe sitting in the front row alongside the Breton Warren Barguil. They will navigate an 11km neutralised zone before hitting kilometre zero in approximately 20 minutes.

There are six climbs on the agenda today:

Brest is hosting the Grand Départ for the fourth time, after 1952, 1974 and 2008. That 1952 Tour might be considered in some ways, the first 'modern' Tour, with the introduction of summit finishes for the first time. Fausto Coppi, the man who brought cycling from its acoustic to electric eras, claimed all three, atop Alpe d'Huez, Sestriere and Puy de Dome. In 1974, meanwhile, the Tour went across the Channel for the first time, visiting Plymouth on stage 2. 

-198km

There is an immediate flurry of attacks, with Qhubeka-NextHash and B&B Hotels among the early aggressors, but no break has formed as yet.

Julien Bernard (Trek-Segafredo) has a go in these fast opening kilometres. Plenty of riders are keen to forge their way clear ahead of the day's early climb.

There is a lot of road furniture in these opening kilometres and, predictably, we have the first crash of the Tour inside the first 5km. Fortunately, it doesn't appear to have been of consequence, but it will add to the general nervousness in the peloton.

-192km

Bernard et al are brought back ahead of the day's first climb. Connor Swift (Arkea-Samsic) is among the men active at the front in these opening kilometres. 

-190km

-188km

-185km

The roads are twisting and rolling in this early phase and there are some gaps opening here and there in the peloton. Vigilence is the byword at this point.

-183km

Danny van Poppel (Intermarché-Wanty) and Cristian Rodriguez (Team TotalEnergies) bridge across to join Bonnamour at the head of the race, but there are still more riders scrambling to get across.

-181km

Connor Swift (Arkea-Samsic) is trying to bridge across alone and this might well be our break of the day, given that local interests are represented, and there is nobody here to worry Deceuninck-QuickStep, Alpecin-Fenix et al unduly.

-179km

-178km

-176km

-173km

-170km

Alpecin-Fenix have joined Deceuninck-QuickStep in controlling affairs at the head of the peloton. 

-165km

-160km

A change of shoes, apparently, for Mathieu van der Poel, who quickly rejoins the fray. The pace is relatively steady in the peloton and the Dutchman won't expend too much energy as he chases back on.

Primoz Roglic and his Jumbo-Visma team are posted near the head of the peloton, which has slightly reduced its deficit on the six escapees to just under three minutes.

Per race radio, the six escapees covered a brisk 44.6km in the opening hour of racing.

-150km

Alpecin-Fenix and Deceuninck-QuickStep have struck up a working alliance to keep tabs on the break's lead, which stands just under 3 minutes. Ineos are lined up en masse behind them, with Tadej Pogacar and his UAE Team Emirates squad next in line.

-141km

-139km

The break hit the base of the climb to Locronan, where Roman Polanski's Thomas Hardy adaptation Tess was filmed. THey have a lead of 2:08 over the peloton.

-136km

Anthony Perez accelerates viciously nead the top to claim the points ahead of Schelling. That was a most full-throated battled for the points, but one imagines the break will reform over the top.

Perez and Schelling sit up and wait for Rodriguez, Van Poppel, Swift and Bonnamour to get back on. 

-128km

-126km

The skies are overcast across Brittany this afternoon but there has, mercifully, been no rain thus far. 

-117km

-112km

-108km

-104km

The first, leaden drops of rain fall over the Tour de France, and this will make a fraught finale all the more complex.

-100km

The six leaders are heading towards the day's fourth ascent, the Stang Ar Garront (2km at 3.5%), with a buffer of 1:38 over the peloton. Those drops of rain haven't developed into steady rainfall just yet. 

-88km

The escapees hit the base of the Côte de Stang Ar Garront (Category 4: 2km at 3.4%) with a lead of 1:37 over the peloton.

Ide Schelling attacks with intent before they've even halfway up the climb and he immediately opens a gap.

A crash in the peloton sees Aurelien Paret Peintre (AG2R-Citroen) and Casper Pedersen (DSM) among the fallers. They spend more time on the ground than anyone else, but both men have remounted and gingerly rejoined the race.  

-81.5km

Schelling continues to pile on the pressure. He is 1:04 clear of the rest of the break and 2:28 up on the bunch, where Tim Declercq still leads.

Schelling took the point on offer atop the climb but he is fully committed to this solo effort. Back in the bunch, meanwhile, a delegation from Israel Start-Up Nation moves up. Michael Woods, the team's GC leader, is a possible contender this afternoon on a climb that many are suggesting is rather harder in practice than it looks on paper.

-78km

Schelling is still extending his advantage over the chasers, who are now 1:40 back. The peloton trails at 2:49.

Aurélien Paret-Peintre rejoined the peloton after his crash, though he did require some attention to his knee from the race doctor. Meanwhile, rain is beginning to fall gently once again over the race.

-70km

The remnants of the day's break don't look like they'll stay ahead of the peloton much longer. The lone leader Schelling, meanwhile, continues to accrue a hefty advantage over the peloton. 

-66km

The day's intermediate sprint comes at Brasparts in a little under 3km, and this will offer our first indication of the contenders for the green jersey. The scramble for positions is evident at the front of the peloton on the approach.

-62.5km

Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) wins the sprint for second ahead of Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Michael Matthews (BikeExchange).

-60km

Intermediate sprint

-54km

Tony Martin rides on the front of the bunch once again and the pace rises accordingly . Delegations from Ineos, Groupama-FDJ and Movistar are also present.

-47km

-45km

Marc Soler was among the many, many fallers. Marc Hirschi is among the many riders getting a bike change. A huge number of riders were caught up in that incident, but, at first glance, it doesn't appear that anybody has been forced out of the race. It will take some time for the peloton to regroup.

Jasha Sutterlin (DSM) is sitting on th roadside getting attention and there are still a couple of Jumbo-Visma riders who haven't restarted.

Ineos and Deceuninck-QuickStep seemed to come through unscathed. Deceuninck-QuickStep were setting the pace, in fact, but they have relented completely to allow the rest of the field to latch back on.

-41km

A bloodied and bruised Tony Martin, the first rider to crash, is chasing back on alone and trying to rejoin the waiting peloton.

Wout van Aert is in a group with Caleb Ewan, Miguel Angel Lopez, Sonny Colbrelli and Jack Haig, a little under a minute down on the peloton. 

-39km

Jasha Sutterlin (DSM), a faller in that mass crash, is the first rider to abandon the 2021 Tour de France.

Peter Sagan is chasing back on alone, though he seems utterly unfazed, and he is using the race convoy as best he can to find his way back to the peloton.

-36km

-31km

Wout van Aert has also succeeded in rejoining the rear of the peloton, where Deceuninck-QuickStep and Alpecin-Fenix are present in numbers at the front. 

-30km

A bike change for Benoit Cosnefroy, who is chasing back on alone. He blasts past a lone Steven Kruijswijk, who appears to be chasing back after a bike change of his own. Primoz Roglic, meanwhile, is sitting calmly towards the head of the peloton.

Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos) is in a group off the back of the peloton. The Briton must have been caught up in the crash or at least required mechanical assistance, but he should be able to get back on. 

-28km

-27km

-25km

Deceuninck-QuickStep, Alpecin-Fenix, Groupama-FDJ and Movistar are all postioned near the head of the peloton on this rolling and punchy run-in.

The Ewan-Greipel-Hirschi group has managed to fight its way back up to the rear of the peloton. There are plenty of ripples on the run-in and it would be a surprise if the peloton remains completely intact all the way to the line. The GC men, of course, will hope not to get caught out when riders like Alaphippe and Van der Poel wind up in the finale.

-21km

Tour de France 2021 108th Edition 1st stage Brest Landerneau 1978 km 26062021 Ide Schelling NED Bora Hansgrohe photo Luca BettiniBettiniPhoto2021

Ide Schelling will wear the polka dot jersey tomorrow. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

-20km

Another bike change for Benoit Cosnefroy, who is having a most difficult day, and he gives lone chase all over again.

The sun has poked through the clouds and thankfully the threatened rain has not materialised.

-14km

-12km

-10km

Robert Gesink sets the pace in front, with Wout van Aert - a faller earlier - tucked on his wheel. Ineos and Deceuninck-QuickStep are also present in numbers.

-8km

-7.5km

Chris Froome is among the many, many fallers. So too are Marc Haller, Andre Greipel and Ion Izagirre. 

Deceuninck-QuickStep continue to set the pace in front. Julian Alaphilippe came through that incident unscathed, and the main peloton is down to 70 riders or so. It's unclear if any GC riders were caught out in that crash.

-5km

Alaphilippe, Van Aert, Roglic, Pogacar and Jack Haig are all among the riders near the head of the race and still in contention this afternoon. Deceuninck-QuickStep lead with EF-Nippo also moving up.

-3km

Mattia Cattaneo pulls on the front for Deceuninck-QuickStep. Alaphilippe sits in fourth wheel with Van Aert and Colbrelli behind him.

Dries Devenyns accelerates with Alaphilippe on his wheel, and Van Aert just behind him. Van der Poel, Roglic and Matthews are also all present near the front...

-2.3km

Primoz Roglic gives chase and Pogacar comes with him. Pierre Latour goes over the top of them in pursuit of Alaphilippe...

-1.8km

-1.5km

-1km

Wout van Aert leads this elite chasing group, but they're not going to bring back the rampant Alaphilippe, who is going to claim an emphatic victory...

Pierre Latour is brought back by the chasers, but Alaphilippe has reached parts the others simply could not reach...

Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) wins stage 1 of the Tour de France.

Michael Matthews (BikeExchange) wins the sprint for second ahead of Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma).

Alaphilippe was a faller earlier in the day, but he emerges to win the stage and claim the first yellow jersey. Meanwhile, Steven Kruijswijk comes in almost 2 minutes down. They won't be the only GC men to have conceded ground this afternoon.

Chris Froome, incidentally, is back on his bike and riding gingerly up the final climb.

Jack Haig was 4th on the stage, ahead of Wilco Kelderman, Tadej Pogacar, David Gaudu, Sergio Higuita, Bauke Mollema and Geraint Thomas. 

Julian Alaphilippe speaks: "It’s really incredible, honestly. It’s a scenario I imagined and the start of my Tour is success. It’s a super feeling, my team did great work, they took care of me and controlled things. In the final I was caught up in a crash but I was able to stay calm and then I had to finish off the work on the final climb, where we really wanted to make it hard and get rid of the sprinters. When Dries opened the gap I gave the maximum without asking any questions.

Result

General classification

Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quickstep) wins stage 1 of the 2021 Tour de France

(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quickstep) wins stage 1 of the 2021 Tour de France

(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

There were only 20 riders in that chasing group 8 seconds behind Alaphilippe. Richard Carapaz lost a little ground in the final metres and came home at 13 seconds.

Miguel Angel Lopez (Movistar), Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) and Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo-Visma) all lost 1:49.

Richie Porte (Ineos) lost 2:16, Simon Yates lost 3:17 and Alejandro Valverde lost 5:33.

Brandon McNulty lost 6:57 and Michael Woods came in 8:49 down. Chris Froome was 14:37 down, while Sepp Kuss conceded 16:29. 

General classification

eam Deceuninck Quicksteps Julian Alaphilippe of France celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 1st stage of the 108th edition of the Tour de France cycling race 197 km between Brest and Landerneau on June 26 2021 Photo by Christophe Petit Tesson various sources AFP Photo by CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSONAFP via Getty Images

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Team Deceuninck Quicksteps Julian Alaphilippe of France celebrates his overall leaders yellow jersey on the podium at the end of the 1st stage of the 108th edition of the Tour de France cycling race 197 km between Brest and Landerneau on June 26 2021 Photo by Thomas SAMSON POOL AFP Photo by THOMAS SAMSONPOOLAFP via Getty Images

(Image credit: Getty Images)

For the third Tour in succession, Alaphilippe has taken the yellow jersey early in the race. And on today's form, he has a chance to extend his advantage tomorrow at Mur-de-Bretagne.

Team Deceuninck Quicksteps Julian Alaphilippe of France rides ahead during the 1st stage of the 108th edition of the Tour de France cycling race 197 km between Brest and Landerneau on June 26 2021 Photo by Philippe LOPEZ AFP Photo by PHILIPPE LOPEZAFP via Getty Images

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Wout van Aert was a faller but he worked for Roglic in the finale: “Fortunately, I didn’t sustain any damage. I saw Tony [Martin] fall and was unable to brake. Before I knew it, I was in the ditch. I still felt good in the final. I expected Alaphilippe's early attack, but I couldn't follow him. When I knew I couldn't win anymore, I kept the gap as small as possible for Primoz. I was on the limit, it's that simple."

Geraint Thomas: “It was a solid day, stressful, with a few crashes. Obviously, wiuth that big crash at the end, I had no idea who was in it. It ended up that Richie was in it, which wasn’t great. I was just concentrating on staying on my bike.

Tao Geoghegan Hart lost 5:33 on today's stage, while Richie Porte conceded 2:16.

Team Deceuninck Quicksteps Julian Alaphilippe of France celebrates his overall leaders yellow jersey on the podium at the end of the 1st stage of the 108th edition of the Tour de France cycling race 197 km between Brest and Landerneau on June 26 2021 Photo by christophe petit tesson POOL AFP Photo by CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSONPOOLAFP via Getty Images

(Image credit: Getty Images)

A full report, results and pictures from today's stage are available here. We'll be back with more live coverage tomorrow from stage 2.