Alaphilippe has dream end to crazy stage 1 at Tour de France | Video | Sticky Bottle

There may have been carnage on the roads in the final 50km today but Julian Alaphilippe shrugged it all off and dominated the very hard finish to win. He also takes the first yellow jersey of Tour 2021

Julian Alaphilippe has given France its hoped-for dream opening to the Tour France, winning stage 1 today in great style. He now exchanges his world champion's jersey for the yellow jersey of race leader.

Dan Martin (Israel Start-Up Nation) lost over 5½ minutes today, placing 121st, on a stage that was significantly split due to two major crashes. That time loss for the only Irish rider in the race is not a massive blow for Martin as he is targeting a stage win rather than riding for the overall.

Deceuninck-QuickStep rider Alaphilippe really took on the finale of the 197.8km stage from Brest to Landerneau when he attacked on the climb leading up to the finish line.

This early breakaway was caught but the man on the far left - young Ide Schelling of Bora-hansgrohe - attacked from the group. He spent enough time out front on his own to take the climbers' jersey. The 23-year-old Tour debutant was then caught with about 30km to go

Alaphilippe (29), who became a father for the first time the week before last, jumped from the select group with just 2.3km to go. Once he went clear nobody in the group was able to live with the pace he set.

While Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma) was just behind him, he did not go after Alaphilippe and the world champion instantly pulled out a big gap. It looked initially like he may have gone too early, but he had the staying power to take it all the way home.

Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies) went after him but couldn't close the gap. Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) and Tadej Pogačar (UAE-Team Emirates) also pulled clear of the select group just behind Latour. But the two big favourites didn't press home their advantage.

*Just one stage down and Julian Alaphilippe has a stage win and the yellow jersey*

Roglič went on the attack from the group after Alaphilippe was already up the road. And when Roglič went clear he was chased and caught by his biggest rival Pogačar.

Related News

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains

Video - Ireland's Meehan climbs with best on brutal Alpine terrain

While the Tour champion wanted to press on and gain time on those behind, Roglič opted not to work with him and they were caught by the group before the line.

Up ahead, nobody came even close to catching lone leader Alaphilippe. He eased up before the line to celebrate his win in great style. He still had eight seconds in hand on the 20-rider chasing group despite taking time to enjoy his big moment.

That chasing group was led home by Michael Matthews (BikeExchange) from red hot favourite for the overall, Roglič. Jack Haig (Bahrain Victorious) was 4th, with Wilco Kelderman (Bora-hansgrohe) in 5th and Pogačar in 6th.

Ineos Grenadiers had only one rider in the group eight seconds behind the winner; 2018 Tour winner Geraint Thomas making the cut. However, his team mate Richard Carapaz was just five further seconds back, in a small group.

The race was hit by two awful incidents; a spectator causing a huge crash with 45km to go and then another very large fall with 7km to go. That second incident left only about 35 riders in the front group. And that lead group was trimmed back even further by the pace up the 3km incline before the line.

Despite the craziness witnessed on the opening stage, the really big favourites were in the front group and it will take some time before it emerges who crashed and what their status is after those falls.

More to come.