etappes tour de france 2021

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Tour de France 2021 - Stages, schedule, route map and key dates in the battle for yellow jersey

Updated 28/06/2021 at 11:44 GMT

A balanced route that leans slightly towards the general classification rider with a strong time trial, the 2021 Tour de France route is an intriguing prospect. There are as many as eight potential stages for the sprinters, as well as some epic climbing days – including a trip into the Alps in the first week, plus a double-ascent of Mont Ventoux to contend with.

Tadej Pogacar and Primoz Roglic celebrate at the end of stage 21 of the Tour de France 2020

Image credit: Getty Images

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Tour de France 2021 - results and standings

Tour de france 2021 - the route.

• 26 June, Stage 1: Brest - Landerneau (197.8km, hilly)
• 27 June, Stage 2: Perros-Guirec - Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan (183.5km, hilly)
• 28 June, Stage 3: Lorient - Pontivy (182.7km, flat)
• 29 June, Stage 4: Redon - Fougères (150.4km, flat)

30 June, Stage 5: Changé - Laval (27.2km, ITT)

• 1 July, Stage 6: Tours - Châteauroux (160.6km, flat)
• 2 July, Stage 7: Vierzon - Le Creusot (249.1km, hilly)
• 3 July, Stage 8: Oyonnax - Le Gran-Bornand (150.8km, mountains)

4 July, Stage 9: Cluses - Tignes (144.9km, mountains)

• 5 July, first rest day
• 6 July, Stage 10: Albertville - Valence (190.7km, flat)

7 July, Stage 11: Sorgues - Malaucène (198.9km, mountains)

8 july, stage 12: saint-paul-trois-châteaux - nîmes (159.4km, flat).

• 9 July, Stage 13: Nîmes - Carcassonne (219.9km, flat)
• 10 July, Stage 14: Carcassonne - Quillan (183.7km, hilly)

11 July, Stage 15: Céret - Andorra la Vella (191.3km, mountains)

• 12 July, second rest day
• 13 July, Stage 16: Pas de la Case - Saint-Gaudens (169km, mountains)

14 July, Stage 17: Muret - Saint-Lary-Soulan Col du Portet (174.8km)

• 15 July, Stage 18: Pau - Luz-Ardiden (129.7km, mountains)
• 16 July, Stage 19: Mourenx - Libourne (207km, flat)

17 July, Stage 20: Libourne – Saint-Émilion (30.8km, ITT)

• 18 July, Stage 21: Chatou - Paris Champs-Élysées (112km, flat)

Tour de France 2021 - route map

The Tour de France route for 2021

Image credit: Eurosport

Tour de France 2021 - KEY stages

Stage 5 profile: Changé – Laval (ITT)

Stage 9 profile: Cluses - Tignes

Stage 11 profile: Sorgues - Malaucène

Stage 12 profile: Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux - Nîmes

Stage 15 profile: Céret - Andorre-La-Vieille

Stage 17 profile: Muret - Col du Portet

Stage 20 profile: Libourne - Saint Emilion (ITT)

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Tour de France 2021: The Route

The 2021 Tour de France kicks in hard with two punchy finishes. Stage 1 serves a 3 kilometres at 5.7% hilltop finish near Landerneau and stage 2 ends at the Mûr de Bretagne, which made its first Tour de France appearance in 2011 with a Cadel Evans victory. Since then Alexis Vuillermoz (2015) and Daniel Martin (2018) were also successful at the 2 kilometres climb at 6.9%.

Both stage 3 and stage 4 are likely to see bunch sprints before the 5th stage provides the first real test for GC contenders: a 27.2 kilometres ITT on undulating terrain.

Stage 6 travels to Châteauroux, where Mark Cavendish took the spoils in 2011, before stage 7 serves a 250 kilometres long transition stage. The last 100 kilometres are packed with short energy-sapping climbs.

La Grande Boucle ventures into the Alps in the second weekend. Stage 8 goes to Le Grand Bornand, a ski resort where Alaphilippe soloed to victory in 2018. In fact, the finale is a carbon copy with the Col de Romme and Col de la Colombière and a flying descent to the line.

Stage 9 finishes uphill in Tignes. The 2019 Tour de France would have finished there, but landslides in Val d’Isère decided differently. The 21 kilometres finish climb is preceded by three huge intermediate climbs.

Week 2 The 10th stage travels from Albertville to Valence, host of the Tour de France twice in the past six years. On both occasions the fast men had it their way – André Greipel in 2015, Peter Sagan in 2018 -, which is also the most likely scenario in 2021.

Arguably, the 11th stage is the most anticipated race of the 2021 Tour de France. The route takes in a double ascent of the Mont Ventoux without finishing at the top of the Beast of the Provence. Instead, the riders drop down into Malaucène, which lies at the foot of the famed mountain.

Following stage 12 – a virtually flat race into Nîmes – the race heads over to the Pyrenees, but without entering the mountain range just yet. Stage 13 finishes in Carcassonne, where the fast men are likely to shine, before stage 14 traverses the lumpy foothills of the Pyrenees to finish in Quillan, just shy of the high mountains that the riders penetrate that Sunday. Stage 15 takes in four intermediate climbs before a downhill finish into Andorra la Vella.

Week 3 The first day of the final week of action is bound to see a successful breakaway. Stage 16 serves three huge climbs before a flat finale with an uphill kicker inside the last 8 kilometres, while stage 17 is quite the opposite with Pyrenean climbing packed inside the last 65 kilometres. After the Col de Peyresourde and Col d’Azet-Val Louron the riders tackle the Col du Portet, which is a 16 kilometres climb at 8.7%, last used in 2018 (Nairo Quintana victory). Summit finish!

The final mountainous test of the 2021 Tour de France – stage 18 – takes in the Col du Tourmalet to finish uphill in ski resort Luz-Ardiden after an ascent of 13.3 kilometres at 7.4%.

The 19th stage travels north on flat to undulating terrain – sprinters or attackers?- before the final GC battle comes in the form of a second time trial. Stage 20 takes place in the vineyards of the Bordeaux region and adds up to 30.8 kilometres.

Obviously, the last stage travels into Paris, where a bunch sprint is next to certain.

Tour de France 2021: route, profiles, more

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Tour de france route 2021: stage profiles, previews, start times, dates, distances.

A stage-by-stage look at the 2021 Tour de France route with profiles, previews, distances, dates and estimated start times (all times Eastern). Check out extended highlights here.

• Click here to watch the 2021 Tour de France live on Peacock

Stage 1: BREST→LANDERNEAU

• Date : Saturday, June 26
• Start time : 6:00 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 197.8 km (122.9 miles) - Hilly
• Preview : The 1st stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers approximately 198 km. The race starts in Brest and ends in Landerneau in what should be an exciting finish to see who can claim the first yellow jersey of the Tour. It includes 6 categorized climbs, though none tougher than a Category 3, and an intermediate sprint at 135.1 km.
• Extended highlights: Click here to watch

Stage 2: PERROS-GUIREC→MUR-DE-BRETAGNE

• Date : Sunday, June 27
• Start time : 7:00 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 183.5 km (114 miles) – Hilly
• Preview : The 2nd stage of the 2021 Tour de France is a 183.5-kilometer hilly stage that starts in Perros-Guirec and ends on the Mur-de-Bretagne in Guerledan. It features another 6 categorized climbs, all Category 3 or 4, including two climbs of the Mur-de-Bretagne. Between bonus seconds behind awarded atop the first Mur-de-Bretagne ascent and an uphill sprint to the finish line on the last climb, there could be an early swap of the yellow jersey.

Stage 3: LORIENT→PONTIVY

• Date : Monday, June 28
• Distance : 182.9 km (113.6 miles) – Flat
• Preview : The 3rd stage of the 2021 Tour de France is simpler flat stage, covering approximately 182.9 km and only featuring a pair of Category 4 climbs. In between those two climbs on the route from Lorient to Pontivy is an intermediate sprint at 118.3 km. With a flat road to the finish line, this stage should see the “pure” sprinters compete head-to-head for the first time in this year’s Tour.

Stage 4: REDON→FOUGERES

• Date : Tuesday, June 29
• Start time : 7:15 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 150.4 km (93.5 miles) – Flat
• Preview : The 4th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 150.4 km, as the best sprinters in the world will be on display for a second straight flat stage. The race from Redon to Fougeres is the only non-time trial stage in this year’s Tour without a single categorized climb. The stage features an intermediate sprint in the 2nd half of the stage at 114.4 km before another bunch sprint is expected at the finish line.

Stage 5: CHANGE→LAVAL

• Date : Wednesday, June 30
• Start time : 6:05 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 27.2 km (16.9 miles) – Individual Time Trial
• Preview : The 5th stage of the 2021 Tour de France is the first of two individual time trials, this one starting in Change and ending in Laval. It’s the first year since 2017 that the Tour has featured multiple individual time trials, which suggests the yellow jersey could be decided by which of the GC riders are the best time trialists. The rider who finishes the 27.2 km route on Stage 5 could very well be the new leader until at least the second week of racing.

Stage 6: TOURS→CHATEAUROUX

• Date : Thursday, July 1
• Start time : 7:45 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 160.6 km (99.8 miles) – Flat
• Preview : The 6th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 160.6 km from Tours to Chateauroux and is another stage designed for a finish-line showdown between the sprinters. One Category 4 climb comes at 72.6 km before the green jersey race takes over. An intermediate sprint at 104.3 km precedes what should be another exciting bunch sprint to end the day.

Stage 7: VIERZON→LE CREUSOT

• Date : Friday, July 2
• Start time : 4:50 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 249.1 km (154.8 miles) – Hilly
• Preview : The 7th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 249.1 km, the longest stage since 2000. The race starts in Vierzon and ends in Le Creusot. The intermediate sprint comes before five categorized climbs, including the first Category 2 climb of the Tour, which will award bonus seconds atop the Signal d’Uchon. The course suggests it could be a successful day for the breakaway or a small group of all-rounders contending to wear yellow at the end of the first week.

Stage 8: OYONNAX→LE GRAND-BORNAND

• Date : Saturday, July 3
• Distance : 150.8 km (93.7 miles) – Mountain
• Preview : The 8th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 150.8 km and is the first mountain stage of the race. After a first week without a lot of difficult climbing, the stage from Oyonnax to Le Grand-Bornand features three Category 1 climbs. With bonus seconds being awarded at the top of the Col de la Colombiere, the final climb of the day, the attention turns to the best climbers in the peloton.

Stage 9: CLUSES→TIGNES

• Date : Sunday, July 4
• Start time : 6:50 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 144.9 km (90 miles) – Mountain
• Preview : The 9th stage of the 2021 Tour de France from Cluses to Tignes covers approximately 144.9 km and will be the most grueling stage of the Tour to this point. There’s five categorized climbs, all of which are Category 2 or higher, including the first HC climb of the Tour on the Col du Pre. Plus, the finish line marks the first of three summit finishes of the Tour, following a 21 km ascent up the Montee de Tignes.

Stage 10: ALBERTVILLE→VALENCE

• Date : Tuesday, July 6
• Start time : 6:55 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 190.7 km (118.5 miles) – Flat
• Preview : The 10th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 190.7 km following the first of two rest days. Unless there’s extreme crosswinds, expect a simple day on the course from Albertville to Valence. Just a single Category 1 climb and the intermediate sprint come in the first half of the stage before the peloton sets itself up for a probable bunch sprint at the finish line in a day suited for the green jersey contenders.

Stage 11: SORGUES→MALAUCENE

• Date : Wednesday, July 7
• Start time : 5:50 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 198.9 km (123.6 miles) – Mountain
• Preview : The 11th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers approximately 198.9 km and features two different climbs up the same mountain. After leaving Sorgues, riders will encounter five categorized climbs in total, the last two a Category 1 climb and an HC ascent both up Mount Ventoux. Bonus seconds will be awarded atop the final climb before the majority of the final 22 km are downhill to the finish line in Malaucene.

Stage 12: SAINT-PAUL-TROIS-CHATEAUX

• Date : Thursday, July 8
• Start time : 7:20 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 159.4 km (99 miles) – Flat
• Preview : The 12th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 159.4 km. The route from Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Nimes is another flat stage that suits the sprinters, with no obstacles until a Category 3 climb at 83.7 km, just after the halfway point in the stage. With a late intermediate sprint in play, the green jersey race will be the highlight of the day.

Stage 13: NIMES→CARCASSONNE

• Date : Friday, July 9
• Start time : 5:55 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 219.9 km (136.6 miles) – Flat
• Preview : The 13th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers a lengthy 219.9 km on the second straight day with a flat stage, starting where the previous day finished in Nimes. Once an early Category 4 climb is out of the way, the attention turns to the sprinters. While it does look like a straightforward day for the green jersey race, the finish town of Carcassonne has never seen a bunch sprint when it has hosted a finish line in the Tour.

Stage 14: CARCASSONNE→QUILLAN

• Date : Saturday, July 10
• Start time : 6:15 a.m. on Peacock , NBC
• Distance : 183.7 km (114.1 miles) – Hilly
• Preview : The 14th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 183.7 km. The race starts where it finished Stage 13 in Carcassonne and finishes in Quillan. The hilly stage features five categorized climbs, three of which are Category 2. The final climb of the day will award bonus seconds atop the Col de Saint-Louis. On paper, this looks like a day for the breakaway, with the heavier mountain stages still to come in the third week of the race .

Stage 15: CERET→ANDORRE-LA-VIEILLE

• Date : Sunday, July 11
• Start time : 6:10 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 191.3 km (118.9 miles) – Mountain
• Preview : The 15th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 191.3 km, a long mountain stage starting in Ceret and finishing in Andorre-la-Vieille. Let the third week of the Tour begin with four categorized climbs, including three Category 1 climbs, and bonus seconds up for grabs atop the Col de Beixalis. The riders will also endure the highest point of the Tour at over 2,400 meters on the Port d’Envalira.

Stage 16: PAS DE LA CASE→SAINT-GAUDENS

• Date : Tuesday, July 13
• Distance : 169 km (105 miles) – Hilly
• Preview : The 16th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 169 km following the final rest day of the race. Now that they’ve gotten another quick rest ahead of the most pivotal racing, the yellow jersey contenders might let the breakaway succeed on this hilly stage from Pas de la Case to Saint-Gaudens. Four spread-out categorized climbs make this an exciting opportunity for a strong breakaway specialist.

Stage 17: MURET→SAINT-LARY-SOULAN

• Date : Wednesday, July 14
• Start time : 5:45 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 178.4 km (110.9 miles) – Mountain
• Preview : The 17th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 178.4 km, kicking off the first of the final two mountain stages of the Tour, both of which are summit finishes. The GC battle heats up starting in Muret, where a flat lead-up to three tough categorized climbs will put the yellow jersey contenders to the test. The stage ends in Saint-Lary-Soulan on the Col du Portet - the HC summit finish taking riders to an elevation of over 2,200 meters.

Stage 18: PAU→LUZ ARDIDEN

• Date : Thursday, July 15
• Start time : 7:25 a.m. on Peacock , NBCSN
• Distance : 129.7 km (80.6 miles) – Mountain
• Preview : The 18th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 129.7 km, with the short-distance mountain stage a good indicator of a challenging day of climbing. After leaving Pau, the peloton will tackle two small Category 4 climbs in the first half of the day before two HC climbs in the second half. It’s the only stage in the Tour with multiple HC climbs, the latter a summit finish at Luz Ardiden. It’s the last opportunity for the GC riders to put themselves in good position ahead of the Stage 20 time trial two days later.

Stage 19: MOURENX→LIBOURNE

• Date : Friday, July 16
• Distance : 207 km (128.6 miles) – Flat
• Preview : The 19th stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 207 km. Expect a casual day from the peloton on this flat stage following the last of the mountains the day earlier and the need for strong legs the next day in the time trial. If a courageous breakaway doesn’t take advantage of this, we should see another sprint finish in Libourne.

Stage 20: LIBOURNE→SAINT-EMILION

• Date : Saturday, July 17
• Distance : 30.8 km (19.1 miles) – Individual Time Trial
• Preview : The 20th stage of the 2021 Tour de France is the second individual time trial that covers 30.8 km. The stage starts in Libourne, where the previous stage finished, and ends in Saint-Emilion. After what happened on last year’s Stage 20 individual time trial, when the yellow jersey amazingly switched hands, brace for another exciting day that could decide the winner of the Tour for the second straight year.

Stage 21: CHATOU→PARIS - CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES

• Date : Sunday, July 18
• Start time : 10:05 a.m. on Peacock , NBC
• Distance : 108.5 km (67.4 miles) – Flat
• Preview : The 21st stage of the 2021 Tour de France covers 108.4 km. The race starts in Chatou and includes a Category 4 climb at 7.4 km and an intermediate sprint at 68.3 km. The Yellow Jersey is traditionally often solidly settled on the shoulders of the final winner at the start of this last stage, but for the sprinters who dream of triumphing on the Champs-Élysées, it’s the opportunity to take on one of the toughest challenges of the year.

Tour de France 2021: Parcours en etappes

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Tour de France artikelen

Tour de france 2021: het complete parcours, tour de france 2021 parcours etappe 1: brest – landerneau.

Tour de France 2021 Parcours etappe 2: Perros-Guirec – Mûr-de-Bretagne

Tour de France 2021 Parcours etappe 3: Lorient - Pontivy

Tour de France 2021 Parcours etappe 4: Redon - Fougères

Stages You Won’t Want to Miss at the 2021 Tour de France

From start to finish, these are the most exciting stages in the race. And no, none of them are time trials.

The great thing about the Tour de France is that, for three weeks, there’s racing every day. The hard thing about the Tour de France is that, for three weeks, there’s a race every day. How do you keep up with it all? How do you know the stages that are going to be the talk of Twitter versus the ones that are snorefests with the pack slow-rolling on a 90-degree day to try as best they can to NOT catch the break until 10km to go?

Picking the stages that will be most entertaining is something of an art, and we won’t claim to get it perfect every time. But eyeing the 2021 Tour de France route, here are six stages we think have the elements to be must-see TV.

See the Entire Route!

Saturday, June 26 Brest to Landernau - 197.8km

It’s rare that the opening stage of the Tour is filled with this level of suspense. But Stage 1 of the 2021 edition is an irresistible buffet of awesome.

Where to start? Well, at the start: the cycling-mad peninsula of Brittany in the country’s far northwest is hosting the 2021 Tour’s Grand Depart. Brittany has tiny roads that are almost never straight (or flat), which will accentuate the usual nervous fight for position that animates the opening stages of the Tour. It’s also notorious for crosswinds, and with a route that snakes down the coast of the Bay of Doaurnenez and back up again, there are plenty of opportunities for a large, motivated pack of racers to break into echelons on this opener. There are enough climbs to entice a serious breakaway of KOM jersey hopefuls rather than the usual rogues gallery of no-hopers you see on Stage 1.

And while most of the attention is on the steepish finish climb of Mur-de-Bretagne on Stage 2, the opening stage finishes on a tricky little Category 3 ascent that’s reminiscent of the old Amstel Gold Race finish. It starts off at 14 percent before backing off to a false flat before the finish, so it’s too steep for sprinters, but requires a perfectly timed move rather than just brute climbing power. All the GC guys will be attentive here, but it’s ideal for someone like Julian Alaphilippe of Deceuninck-Quick Step’s “wolf pack,” who might find the climb’s name—the Côte de la Fosse aux Loups, or Wolf Pit hill—an omen of sorts.

Friday, July 2 Vierzon to le Creusot - 249.1km

What jumps out about this stage is its length. It’s extremely rare to find stages in Grand Tours that are much over 225km long; this one—the longest in 21 years—is closer in distance to a Monument like Liege-Bastogne-Liege. But those are one-day races with recovery days immediately after; this comes almost a week into a Grand Tour.

And it’s not flat: five categorized climbs, all in the last 80km, including a Category 2 at 230km in that reaches maximum gradients of 18 percent. The only thing we know here is that we don’t know what will happen, because racing gets weird past 225km. Some riders are exceptional at the distance, while others find their power has left them. Most of the pack, including the overall contenders, will simply be looking to survive the day, especially if it’s hot. But if we look to Classics races as our template, there may well be an early breakaway and a larger, more serious second one later in the stage. While it isn’t expected to be a day for the overall favorites, it’s not out of the question that one or more GC rider could have a rough day and will get distanced on the steeps of that late Cat. 2 ascent. The way GC racing plays out, there will not be a moment’s hesitation to make that rider pay for his weakness. The best bet is for a late breakaway to survive: riders who thrive on long, hard courses, like Dan Martin, Philippe Gilbert, or Vincenzo Nibali.

Sunday, July 4 Cluse to Tignes - 144.9km

This year’s Tour goes light on the Alps, with only two stages—Stages 8 and 9—that pass through the famous mountain range. Of the two, Stage 9 is the one to watch as it brings the Tour’s first summit finish, in Tignes. The climb to Tignes was supposed to host the finish of Stage 19 of the 2019 Tour de France, but the riders never got there as storm-induced rock and mudslides led to the stage being stopped following the Col d’Iseran, on which Egan Bernal had escaped to take the yellow jersey.

The day begins in Cluses with a false flat to the base of the day’s first ascent, the Category 2 Côte de Domancy (2.5km at 9.4 percent), the first of the stage’s five categorized climbs. It’s here that a breakaway should form, filled with stage hunters and riders looking to score lots of points in the Tour’s King of the Mountains competition. The intermediate sprint in Praz-sur-Arly comes soon after, followed by the Category 1 Col de Saisies (9.4km at 6.2%). A long descent takes the riders to the valley below and the base of the day’s toughest climb, the Hors Categorie Col du Pré (12.6km at 7.7 percent), which—when combined with the Cat. 2 Cormet de Roseland (5.7km at 6.5 percent) 6km later—is essentially two climbs for the price of one. But riders dropped from the break or the peloton on the Pré-Roseland combo should have a chance to rejoin their groups on the long descent to the valley below, where wind direction on the roads to the foot of the final climb will seal the fate of the breakaway.

The final Category 1 climb to the ski resort in Tignes (21km at 5.6 percent) isn’t particularly hard, but it’s long, steady, and takes the riders above 2,000 meters (where the riders start to feel the altitude’s thin air) for the first time in this year’s Tour. Look for INEOS and Jumbo-Visma to set-up their “mountain trains,” lining up their riders and setting a stiff tempo in a bid to prevent sudden accelerations—while dropping riders out the back. And if the break is close—which it could be given this stage’s relatively short distance—there’s the added incentive of bonus seconds going to the top-3 finishers. In the end, we could see a select group of favorites sprinting for the win, similar to last year’s Stage 4 finish in Orcières-Merlette, where Primož Roglič won the sprint to take the stage victory.

Wednesday, July 7 Sorgues to Malaucene – 198.9km

The fabled and feared Mont Ventoux makes not one appearance in this grueling stage, but two. After 100km of warmup, including three other categorized climbs, the pack will ascend to Ventoux’s windswept, treeless summit first via the more “gentle” side from the town of Sault (22km at 5.1 percent), then descend to the bottom in Malaucene and tackle the shorter but steeper climb from Bedoin (15.7km at 8.8 percent). They’re STILL not done, though, as the race drops a second time down the descent to the finish in Malaucene. That devilish little twist turns what is normally a straightforward—if arduous—climbing stage into a tricky affair that’s loaded with opportunities for things to go wrong.

The double ascent, with the steeper one coming second (the ascents join at Chalet Reynard for the final 6km of each), will absolutely explode the pack on the second go-round. And the 21km descent to Malaucene is no joke, with tricky hairpin turns and long stretches of 10 percent drops. There’s almost no flat terrain at the bottom for a dropped rider to re-catch the leaders before the finish, so gaps that form on the descent will stick. This is an absolutely pivotal day for all GC contenders, and which will reward a complete winner, with the climbing strength, descending chops, and tactical savvy to follow the wheels until it’s time for that one devastating attack. Whether it’s on the climb or descent, no one can say, but it’ll happen. Our picks? INEOS’s Richard Carapaz has the perfect skillset for the day, but keep an eye out for Nairo Quintana of Arkea-Samsic and Movistar’s Miguel Angel Lopez, who won a key tuneup race on a highly similar course in early June.

Wednesday, July 14 Muret to Saint-Lary-Soulan/Col du Portet - 178km

What the 2021 lacks in Alps it more than makes-up for in Pyrenees, with four stages through the range that forms the border between France and Spain. But while all four stages will be exciting, we've got our eyes on the last two. Stage 17 begins gently, with about 115km of gradually rising roads as the race heads southwest from Muret. But once through the Intermediate Sprint in Luchon, things get hard— really hard—as the race follows the route of Stage 17 from the 2018 Tour de France, a super-short stage of 65km that tackled three categorized summits. (The stage was so short that the organizers used a Formula One-style starting grid to begin the race.)

The climbing begins with the Category 1 Col de Peyresourde (13.2km at 7 percent), which should prompt attacks from out-of-contention stage hunters and the few remaining riders who still have a chance of winning the polka dot jersey as the Tour’s King of the Mountains. They won’t get much of a gap, though, as teams like INEOS, Jumbo-Visma, and UAE will do their best to keep their leaders close enough to perhaps win the stage themselves. Up next comes shorter—but steeper—Category 1 Col de Val Louron-Azet (7.4km at 8.3 percent). The KOM points here should also go to a rider from the breakaway, but with what’s still to come, the break might not last much longer.

The stage ends with perhaps the toughest single climb in this year’s Tour: the Hors Categorie Col du Portet (16km at 8.7 percent). Long, steep, and finishing at elevation, it’s here that the break should be caught and the Tour’s GC contenders will emerge. Quintana won the stage for Movistar in 2018, attacking soon after the climb began and sweeping up everyone on the road ahead of him to win his first stage in five years. He was far enough down the GC at the time to be given a bit of a leash, and he might find himself in a similar position this year. It’s also Bastille Day, which means the roads will be lined with partying fans—and the French will be très eager to win the stage.

Thursday, July 15 Pau to Luz Ardiden - 129.7km

As if three days in the Pyrenees weren’t enough, the Tour’s organizers added one more, a classic stage that features two of the Tour’s most famous climbs: the Tourmalet and Luz Ardiden. Like Stage 17, the serious climbing comes at the end of the day, but with fewer kilometers (130 as opposed to 178) the breakaway should have a harder time surviving.

Starting in Pau, the first half of the stage offers two Category 4 climbs, one early and the other followed closely by the Intermediate Sprint in Pouzac halfway through the day. From there it’s about 25km to the base of the day’s first “real” challenge: the Hors Categorie Col du Tourmalet (17.1km at 7.3 percent). Tackled from the east in Sainte-Marie-de-Campan, this is the longer, but steadier road to the summit (the western approach starts easier but gets much steeper toward the top). The first rider to the summit wins the Souvenir Jacques Goddet.

A long descent to the valley offers the riders a chance to catch their breath and refuel, which they’ll need for the Tour’s final summit finish: the Hors Categorie climb to Luz Ardiden (13.3km at 7.4 percent), a ski resort in the high Pyrenees. Any riders left from the day’s breakaway will need several minutes in order to have a chance of holding-off the remaining GC contenders, and with a team like INEOS capable of team-trialing its way up this year’s major summits, even a five-minute advantage might not be enough—especially if it’s hot (which it probably will be). This is the last chance for any climbers to try and gain time before the Tour’s final time trial, which means the battle to win the stage—and possibly the Tour—will be super-fierce. Yes, it’s a Thursday, but try and set aside time to watch the finale. You won’t regret it.

Watch: How the Tour Jerseys Are Made

Since getting hooked on pro cycling while watching Lance Armstrong win the 1993 U.S. Pro Championship in Philadelphia, longtime Bicycling contributor Whit Yost has raced on Belgian cobbles, helped build a European pro team, and piloted that team from Malaysia to Mont Ventoux as an assistant director sportif. These days, he lives with his wife and son in Pennsylvania, spending his days serving as an assistant middle school principal and his nights playing Dungeons & Dragons.

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Tour de France 2021 | Parcours, etappes, data en profielen

Geupdate 02/12/2020 om 10:41 GMT+1

Na de Tour in 2020 door corona pas in augustus van start ging, start de volgende Tour de France alweer op 26 juni 2021. Lees hier alles over het nieuwe parcours.

Le peloton aborde les Champs-Elysées.

Foto: Getty Images

Tour de France | Mohoric wint etappe 19

Magnus Cort Nielsen - 15e étape, Tour de France 2018

Tour de France 2020 | Sam Bennett wint in Parijs

Tour de France | Wout van Aert verslaat concurrentie ook in tijdrit

19/07/2021 om 09:52

Tour de France | Wout van Aert wint op de Champs-Élysées

19/07/2021 om 09:45

Tour de France stage 1 - Live coverage

All the action on the road from Brest to Landerneau

Tour de France 2021 hub page

Tour de France 2021 start list

Stage 1 finish offers perfect battleground for puncheurs - Preview

Mathieu van der Poel unperturbed by Tour de France expectations

How to watch the Tour de France – live TV and streaming

Tour de France tech: All the tech and trends from the 2021 race

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:

8.6km – Côte de Trébéolin (Category 4: 0.9km at 5.1%)

27.2km – Côte de Rosnoën (Category 4: 3km at 4%)

61.5km – Côte de Locronan (Category 3: 0.9km at 9.3%)

115km – Côte de Stang Ar Garront (Category 4: 2km at 3.4%)

150.7km – Côte de Saint-Rivoal (Category 4: 2.5km at 3.9%)

197.8km – Côte de la Fosse aux Loups (Category 3: 3.1km at 5.6%)

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. 

Christian Prudhomme waves the flag from the sunroof of the race director's car and the 2021 Tour de France is officially underway.

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.

Bernard has four riders for company at the head of the race, but their lead over the peloton is just 20 metres or so, and it doesn't look as though they will be given the leeway to escape up the road.

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. 

Victor Campenaerts (Qhubeka-NextHash) escapes from the peloton at the base of the Côte de Trébéolin (Category 4: 0.9km at 5.1%). The Belgian starts the climb with a small advantage over the bunch.

Campenaerts holds off a late charge from Georg Zimmerman (Intermarché-Wanty) to take the first mountains point of the 2021 Tour. The bunch comes back together over the top, but the pace is relentless and the field is lined out.

Arkéa-Samsic are on home roads and very active in these opening kilometres. Clement Russo forces on the pace but it's proving difficult for would-be attackers to get a foothold.

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.

Franck Bonnamour (B&B Hotels) has attacked and opened a small gap over the peloton, and there are couple more riders forging across.

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.

And then there were five: Franck Bonnamour (B&B Hotels p/b KTM), Cristian Rodriguez (Team TotalEnergies), Danny van Poppel (Intermarché-Wanty) are joined by Anthony Perez (Cofidis) and Ide Schelling (Bora-Hansgrohe).

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.

The pace abates in the peloton and riders fan across the road. The day's early break has taken shape and there will be a temporary cessation of hostilities in the main field, which will come as a relief to many.

Franck Bonnamour (B&B Hotels p/b KTM), Cristian Rodriguez (Team TotalEnergies), Danny van Poppel (Intermarché-Wanty) are joined by Anthony Perez (Cofidis) and Ide Schelling (Bora-Hansgrohe)

Chaser at 0:13:

Connor Swift (Arkéa-Samsic)

Peloton at 1:00

Six riders at the head of the race ahead of the Côte de Rosnoën (Category 4: 3km at 4%) as Swift makes it across to the escapees. They have 2:13 over a peloton content to leave them to it for the time being.

The six leaders continue to augment their advantage on the Côte de Rosnoën, and the gap now stands at 3:26. Tim Declercq, meanwhile, readies himself to assume pace-making duties at the head of the peloton for Deceuninck-QuickStep.

Danny van Poppel outsprints Anthony Perez atop the Cote de Rosnoën. 3:45 the gap to the peloton.

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

Peter Sagan has a Bora-Hansgrohe teammate in the break today, but we will surely see the Slovakian in action in the intermediate sprint at Brasparts later on this afternoon - and, of course, in that high-octane finale. "There are a lot of guys in the bunch interested," Sagan said of the first yellow jersey of thee race. "Maybe not the pure sprinters but there are still a lot of guys like Alaphilippe, [Sonny] Colbrelli and others. And maybe even me. It always depends on how the race is going." Stephen Farrand has more from Brest here .

Franck Bonnamour (B&B Hotels p/b KTM), Cristian Rodriguez (Team TotalEnergies), Danny van Poppel (Intermarché-Wanty), Anthony Perez (Cofidis), Ide Schelling (Bora-Hansgrohe), Connor Swift (Arkéa-Samsic)

Peloton at 3:28

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.

Franck Bonnamour (B&B Hotels p/b KTM), Cristian Rodriguez (Team TotalEnergies), Danny van Poppel (Intermarché-Wanty), Anthony Perez (Cofidis) and Ide Schelling (Bora-Hansgrohe), Connor Swift (Arkéa-Samsic)

Peloton at 2:54

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.

Julian Alaphilippe has made no secret of his ambitions for the opening weekend of this Tour de France. After taking yellow on stage 3 in 2019 and on stage 2 last year, he is looking for the first maillot jaune of the race this afternoon. The world champion liked what he saw in a reconnaissance on Wednesday morning. "I find the finishing climb on stage 1 very hard, because after the steep part, it doesn’t descend and that’s often what hurts the legs the most. I think there are people who’ll be surprised," said Alaphilippe. Read the full story here .

Peloton at 2:29

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.

The break fragments on the cobbles midway up the climb as Schelling winds up the pace. Perez and Van Poppel go with him...

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. 

A crash in the peloton as it slows near the feed zone, and Julien Bernard is the man who hits the ground. The Frenchman remounts quickly and he is chasing back on through the race convoy.

Peloton at 2:56

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

Petr Vakoc (Alpecin-Fenix) and Tim Declercq (Deceuninck-QuickStep) continue to set the tempo in the peloton on behalf of Van der Poel and Alaphilippe. 2:19 the gap to the six leaders.

Michael Matthews has yet to win since his return to BikeExchange, but his last victory was on Breton roads at the Bretagne Classic last August, and the Australian is a definite contender for victory both today and tomorrow. "It is difficult to decide which one suits better,” Matthews said. “I'll give it 100 per cent on both of them and we'll see what we come out with, hopefully it’s a victory. But we just don’t know.” Read more here .

Ineos remain present en masse just behind Vakoc and Declercq at the head of the peloton. With the uphill finale this afternoon, there is no 3km rule in place, and so positioning will be of even greater importante in the closing kilometres.

Peloton at 2:10

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

With 100km remaining, Franck Bonnamour (B&B Hotels p/b KTM), Cristian Rodriguez (Team TotalEnergies), Danny van Poppel (Intermarché-Wanty), Anthony Perez (Cofidis), Ide Schelling (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Connor Swift (Arkéa-Samsic) have a lead of just under two minutes on the peloton.

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. 

Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Victorious) sits in the peloton in the colours of Italian champion. He has enjoyed a remarkable run of form in recent weeks and he could even be a contender for the first yellow jersey this evening. "It will be anything but easy, but when you're on the crest of a wave, you have to take advantage of it," Colbrelli told La Gazzetta dello Sport . "I rode the finale, and I like it. I have to have a go."

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.  

Schelling's determined attack has seen him open a lead of 45 seconds over his erstwhile companions on the climb, a remarkable effort from the Dutchman. 

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.

Ide Schelling (Bora-Hansgrohe)

Chasers at 1:22:

Franck Bonnamour (B&B Hotels p/b KTM), Cristian Rodriguez (Team TotalEnergies), Danny van Poppel (Intermarché-Wanty), Anthony Perez (Cofidis), Connor Swift (Arkéa-Samsic)

Peloton at 2:41

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.

Chasers at 2:23:

Peloton at 2:44

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. 

Swift, Bonnamour, Rodriguez, Perez and Van Poppel are swept up by the peloton, where UAE Team Emirates are present en masse near the front. 

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.

Schelling picks up maximum points at the slightly uphill intermediate sprint, but the real interest will be in the sprint for second place behind him, with the pace ratcheting upwards in the peloton. 

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

The injection of urgency for that sprint, meanwhile, has seen Schelling's lead drop to 1:50. Ineos and Jumbo-Visma have now taken up the reins in the peloton.

Intermediate sprint

1          Ide Schelling (Ned) Bora-Hansgrohe  20

2          Caleb Ewan (Aus) Lotto Soudal          17

3          Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe    15

4          Michael Matthews (Aus) Team BikeExchange            13

5          Bryan Coquard (Fra) B&B Hotels p/b KTM  11

6          Arnaud Démare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ            10

7          Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Arkea-Samsic  9

8          Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain Victorious         8

9          Jasper De Buyst (Bel) Lotto Soudal    7

10        Mark Cavendish (GBr) Deceuninck-QuickStep          6

11        Luka Mezgec (Slo) Team BikeExchange        5

12        Daniel Oss (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe       4

13        Tony Martin (Get) Jumbo-Visma        3

14        Robert Gesink (Ned) Jumbo-Visma    2

15        Mads Pedersen (Den) Trek-Segafredo            1

The intensity has dropped slightly in the peloton once again, and Schelling takes advantage of the relative lull to open his lead out to 2:27 once again. He will take the king of the mountains jersey if he survives out here as far as the top of the upcoming Côte de Saint-Rivoal, and that will serve almost as a provisional finish line for Schelling.

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.

Ide Schelling leads over the top of the Côte de Saint-Rivoal (Category 4: 2.5km at 3.9%), and the Dutchman is on course to wear the polka dot jersey tomorrow. The peloton trails at 1:53.

A crash in the peloton sees a lot of riders brought down and caught up behind. It appears that Tony Martin rode into a supporter's sign on the roadside and that sparked a pile-up behind him. Wout van Aert was among the riders to go down with a couple more Jumbo-Visma riders. Riders from Movistar and UAE Team Emirates were also caught up in that incident, as was Italian champion Sonny Colbrelli.

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.

The lone leader Schelling has a buffer of 1:13 over the front of the peloton but there are, of course, groups splintered all over the road after that crash.

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. 

Peloton at 1:51

Van Aert group at 2:34

Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), Miguel Angel Lopez (Movistar), Jack Haig (Bahrain Victorious), Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Victorious), Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal).

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.

The self-declared neutralisation seems to be at an end as the kilometres tick by. Schelling is still 1:30 clear, and Deceuninck-QuickStep want to set about shaving back that advantage before the finale.

Deceuninck-QuickStep’s pace-making has sliced Schelling’s lead to 1:00. Meanwhile, riders are continuing to latch back onto the peloton, including Peter Sagan.

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. 

Peloton at 0:50

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. 

Schelling's advantage is rapidly dwindling, meanwhile, and the Dutchman won't last much longer out in front. 

Ide Schelling (Bora-Hansgrohe) is swept up by the peloton. The Dutchman's lone adventure looks to have earned him a day in the polka dot jersey.

Caleb Ewan and Andre Greipel are among a group of riders who have been distanced from the peloton, but they will fight another day on this Tour. 

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.

Ineos are well placed towards the front, including Tao Geoghegan Hart, who had been caught behind a little earlier. 

Gruppo compatto as the race enters the final 20km. We can surely expect some attacks before that high-octane climb to the finish in Landerneau.

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.

Deceuninck-QuickStep, Groupama-FDJ, Ineos and Alpecin-Fenix occupy the first row of the peloton and the pace is ratcheting upwards on this run-in.

The pace is high enough to dissuade any would-be attackers for the time being, as Alpecin-Fenix, Deceuninck-QuickStep and Movistar look to pilot Van der Poel, Alaphilippe and Valverde to the line.

Ineos take over at the head of the peloton and a delegation from Jumbo-Visma move up alongside them. The GC men won't yield an inch on this run-in.

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.

The scramble for positions continues apace. The bunch is 5km from the base of the climb to the finish, the Côte de la Fosse aux Loups (Category 3: 3.1km a 5.6%).

Another mass crash in the peloton, and that has removed a lot of riders from contention. It took place near the front and there will be GC men losing ground today...

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.

Chris Froome is still sitting on the road, and it is unclear if he can continue. 

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.

The reduced peloton hits the base of the  Côte de la Fosse aux Loups. Deceuninck-QuickStep lead into the foot of the climb on behalf of Alaphilippe. Van der Poel is quite a way back for the time being...

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...

Julian Alaphilippe climbs from the saddle and accelerates clear alone. A big, big move from the world champion...

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

Alaphilippe has 40m or so on Latour, with the Slovenian pair just behind him. Van der Poel accelerates and bridges across to Roglic and Pogacar...

Alaphilippe is stretching out his advantage over Latour, but he still has a long, long way to go...

The road levels off slightly and Alaphilippe kicks again. It will take a big, big effort to bring him back. Latour is alone in second, then a very elite group of 20 or so riders, with the rest of the field splintered across the hillside...

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.

"It wasn’t planned to go from that far but when I went I saw I had a small gap and I saw everyone was à bloc so I decided to keep going. In the final kilometre, I saw the gap wasn’t coming down. Every time it’s an emotion I can’t describe.

"It’s a joy for me to win but also to give emotions to those close to me. This is really a special win for me."

1 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Deceuninck-QuickStep 04:39:05 2 Michael Matthews (Aus) Team BikeExchange 00:00:08 3 Primoz Roglic (Slo) Jumbo-Visma 00:00:08 4 Jack Haig (Aus) Bahrain Victorious 00:00:08 5 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Bora-Hansgrohe 00:00:08 6 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 00:00:08 7 David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 00:00:08 8 Sergio Higuita Garcia (Col) EF Education-Nippo 00:00:08 9 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 00:00:08 10 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers 00:00:08

General classification

1 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Deceuninck-QuickStep 04:38:55 2 Michael Matthews (Aus) Team BikeExchange 00:00:12 3 Primoz Roglic (Slo) Jumbo-Visma 00:00:14

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. 

1          Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Deceuninck-QuickStep         4:38:45

2          Michael Matthews (Aus) Team BikeExchange            0:00:12

3          Primoz Roglic (Slo) Jumbo-Visma     0:00:14

4          Jack Haig (Aus) Bahrain Victorious    0:00:18

5          Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Bora-Hansgrohe     

6          Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates      

7          David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ   

8          Sergio Higuita Garcia (Col) EF Education-Nippo      

9          Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo          

10        Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers

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.

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.

“I was too far back on the last climb. I was expecting a lull after the steep bit but it never came. Alaphilippe went so hard for so long, it was full gas all the way up, which made my life a bit harder. But for the first day, I was happy to get through it. But I’m gutted for Richie and Tao to get caught up and lose time.”

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

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. 

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Sprint | Paris - Hauts des Champs Élysées (68.3 km)

Points at finish, kom sprint (4) côte des grès (7.4 km), youth day classification, team day classification, race information.

• Date: 18 July 2021
• Start time: 16:30
• Avg. speed winner: 40.748 km/h
• Classification: 2.UWT
• Race category: ME - Men Elite
• Distance: 108.4 km
• Points scale: GT.A.Stage
• UCI scale: UCI.WR.GT.A.Stage - TM2022
• Parcours type:
• ProfileScore: 14
• Vertical meters: 699
• Departure: Chatou
• Arrival: Paris Champs-Élysées
• Race ranking: 1
• Startlist quality score: 1646
• Won how: Sprint of large group
• Avg. temperature:

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