Tour de France stage 1 Live – Race for the first yellow jersey begins in Florence

Now just 4km until the official start. Sometimes earlier Grand Tour stages can be characterised by how little riders want to get into the break, but the amount of climbing on the menu today, and the prospect of everything from a Polka-dot jersey and fame on such a big occasion, should mean there’s action once the flag drops soon.

Still 10km left of the neutralised zone. The Tour de France is making the most of this unique Grand Départ.

The crowds are out in Florence to greet the Tour de France.

Although there are no climbs ranked higher than category two today, there are a lot of them — seven in total, amounting to 3,600m elevation gain in total. It’s been described as one of the hardest starts to a Tour de France, and one that even many puncheurs will find too hard. 

Make sure to read our more detailed preview of the stage.

Mark Cavendish is in good spirits, waving to the crowd as the peloton sets off from the unofficial start. He’s here riding the fifteenth Tour of his career, and is, as has been much discussed, chasing the record-breaking 35th win.

The riders have just set off from the neutralised zone – the Tour is to begin soon! Not just yet, though, as they will spend longer than usual in the zone than usual as they savour the sights of Florence.

All eyes are on Tadej Pogačar today — as they often are. Given the interrupted preparations for all three of Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Primož Roglič, Pogačar is the favourite for the yellow jersey. And given the uncertainty about the others’ form — especially defending champion Vingegaard’s, whose presence here is borderline miraculous given the crash he suffered in the Basque Country — its anticipated that he will try to strike early, and lay the hammer down on today’s hills.

Unsurprisingly, Florence has made for a beautiful backdrop as the riders are introduced. Here’s world champion Mathieu van der Poel against the backdrop of the Duomo.

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