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148km to go: <\/strong>The first climb is in sight. The five riders in the breakaway are heading towards the category four C\u00f4te de Notre-Dame-de-Lorette<\/strong>.<\/p>\n There are another category four climbs on today\u2019s route, with Mont Cassel<\/strong> and Mont Noir<\/strong>. Who\u2019ll take the polka dot jersey after this stage?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Kurt<\/strong> has emailed in asking whether there are any Americans who have a chance to win the Tour De France this year?<\/strong><\/p>\n From a quick scan of the starting riders list, there are five US cyclists in the peloton: Matteo Jorgenson<\/strong> and Sepp Kuss<\/strong> for Visma-Lease a Bike<\/strong>, Neilson Powless<\/strong> (EF Education-Easypost), Quinn Simmons<\/strong> (Lidl-Trek<\/strong>), William Barta<\/strong> (Movistar<\/strong>).<\/p>\n What do you think? What are the best chances for these riders?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n John<\/strong> has emailed in about the winds on the course. It\u2019s definitely going to be a concern for the riders, with some strong gusts and crosswinds anticipated:<\/p>\n I\u2019m watching ITV4\u2019s coverage, with infill from Discovery+ during the advert breaks. <\/p>\n David Millar and Ned Boulting made the point that the very strong wind will be a cross\/tailwind on the run-in back to Lille. Two things from that:<\/p>\n i) if the breakaway still has a gap with, say, 10km to go, they will believe that they have a chance, especially with Armirail and Thomas in the group.<\/p>\n ii) the wind looks strong enough for echelons to form, so there\u2019s a chance that one of the GC favourites might get stuck behind the front group and lose time.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 161km to go:<\/strong> Over on the team radios, riders have been warned about speedbumps, which are often in place at the entry and exit of French towns.<\/p>\n The breakaway\u2019s gap stays steady at 2mins 14secs.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.13 EDT<\/p>\n One of my favourite things during the Tour de France<\/strong> is seeing the creative and fun ways that fans come out to support the race. Here\u2019s a few pictures that have come in so far:<\/p>\n Spectators in rooster costumes along the race route of the first stage of the 112th edition of the Tour de France, in Lille. Photograph: Marco Bertorello\/AFP\/Getty ImagesFans watch the start of Tour de France 2025 from the roof of their house. Photograph: Beno\u00eet Tessier\/ReutersSpectators line the race route during stage one of the Tour de France 2025. Photograph: Marco Bertorello\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n 168km to go:<\/strong> It looks like Cofidis<\/strong>\u2019s Bryan Coquard<\/strong> is back in the peloton. The breakaway have increased their lead to 2mins 19secs. Here\u2019s a picture of the five men in that group:<\/p>\n (L-R) Benjamin Thomas of Cofidis, Mathis Le Berre of Arkea \u2013 B&B Hotels, Matteo Vercher of TotalEnergies, Jonas Rutsch of Intermarche \u2013 Wanty and Bruno Armirail of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale in the breakaway. Photograph: Dario Belingheri\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Also, dare I ask what people think of the new kits?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 174km to go:<\/strong> The group-of-five breakaway have just over 2mins on the bunch. Jonathan Milan\u2019s Lidl-Trek<\/strong> and Jasper Philipsen\u2019s Alpecin-Deceuninck<\/strong> are driving the drive the peloton. Cofidis<\/strong>\u2019s Bryan Coquard<\/strong> is dropping off the back and is 15secs behind.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.58 EDT<\/p>\n 178km to go:<\/strong> The gap has grown to 1min 38secs, but the peloton behind are yet to act on the breakaway.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 182km to go:<\/strong> Already a group of five have opened up a gap of 25secs. The riders are: Jonas Rutsch<\/strong> (Intermarch\u00e9-Wanty), Matis Le Berre<\/strong> (Ark\u00e9a-B&B Hotels), Bruno Armirail<\/strong> (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Benjamin Thomas<\/strong> (Cofidis) and Matt\u00e9o Vercher<\/strong> (Total Energies). The peloton behind seem pretty chilled about it at the moment.<\/p>\n Bruno Armirail, Mathis Le Berre, Jonas Rutsch and Matteo Vercher make an early move. Photograph: Marco Bertorello\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.51 EDT<\/p>\n The racing has begun!<\/p>\n 184km to go:<\/strong> The race is on and the first attack comes from perennial underdog French squad, Total Energies.<\/strong><\/p>\n Spectators cheer from a balcony along the race route at the start of 112th edition of the Tour de France starting and finishing in Lille M\u00e9tropole. Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n According to TNT Sports\u2019 viewer predictor poll for today\u2019s stage winner, Jonathan Milan <\/strong>is the favourite, followed by Jasper Philipsen.<\/strong><\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.47 EDT<\/p>\n My first email! Thanks Guy.<\/strong><\/p>\n Bonjour Amy, Le Tour est ici! If the Giro was anything to go by, this could be a vintage year for Grand Tours. Though it\u2019s obviously hard to see past Poga\u010dar for the GC in France, there should be subplots aplenty and opportunities for teams to attack him and go for the other jerseys.<\/p>\n My money is on Jasper Philipsen today (and not just because he\u2019s in my fantasy team) but we\u2019ve all seen plenty of chaos in opening sprint stages so I\u2019m also hoping everyone stays upright.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n I\u2019m looking forward to seeing what the subplots might be this year too.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here is a clip of the riders starting stage one:<\/p>\n Also, there\u2019s been some discussion on the live coverage about the wind conditions today. According to the official TdF updates, there is a south-westerly wind, with gusts of up to 45 km\/h, which the riders will face for the first 40km. After that, they should have the wind in their favour for the next 70km. Oh, and there\u2019s a chance of rain in the afternoon.<\/p>\n TNT Sports spoke to Jonas Vingegaard<\/strong> before stage one and asked him about the wind today. The Danish rider spoke about growing up in the wind and says he remembers well riding into a headwind often, which he admits is \u201cannoying\u201d. On another note, he happily told the interviewer he\u2019d had a good nine and a half hours sleep, which he said he doesn\u2019t often get these days due to his children.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n According to the Tour\u2019s live coverage, the peloton has stopped at Porte de Paris<\/strong>, one of Lille<\/strong>\u2019s city gates, where an orchestra is playing the Marseillaise<\/strong>, the French national anthem.<\/p>\n The pack of riders cycles past the Porte de Paris arch. Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.04 EDT<\/p>\n Today’s rollout has begun<\/p>\n And the Tour de France 2025<\/strong> is off! Well, the controlled, 11km slow rollout before the official race starts is on. There are 184 riders taking part and the TV coverage is showing quite a few smiling faces as they parade around during the neutralised start in Lille<\/strong>.<\/p>\n (L-R) Tadej Poga\u010dar of UAE Team Emirates and Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike before stage one of the Tour de France 2025 rollout. Photograph: Dario Belingheri\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.20 EDT<\/p>\n The rollout should begin in just one minute. The riders, such as three-time Tour de France<\/strong> stage winner Biniam Girmay<\/strong>, can be spotted waiting at the start line:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.11 EDT<\/p>\n Earlier I mentioned that all eyes will be on sprinters such as Jasper Philipsen<\/strong>, Jonathan Milan<\/strong> and Tim Merlier<\/strong>. Here\u2019s a little bit about each of them:<\/p>\n Jasper Philipsen<\/strong><\/p>\n Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin \u2013 Deceuninck during the team presentation prior to the 112th Tour de France 2025. Photograph: Dario Belingheri\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Part of Alpecin-Deceuninck, <\/strong>Philipsen has one plan: the green jersey. On the flat stages, team mate Mathieu <\/strong>van der Poel uses his explosive power and superlative bike handling to lead out Philipsen, who has won nine stages in the last three Tours and the green jersey in 2023.<\/p>\n Jonathan Milan<\/strong><\/p>\n Jonathan Milan of Lidl \u2013 Trek prior to the 112th Tour de France 2025, in Lille. Photograph: Dario Belingheri\/Getty Images<\/p>\n After a prolific spring for Lidl-Trek<\/strong>, July is all about stage wins, with Milan for the flat finishes. The Italian sprinter with four stages in the Giro to his name shines when the roads are the lumpy side of flat.<\/p>\n Tim Merlier<\/strong><\/p>\n Soudal Quick-Step team’s Belgian rider Tim Merlier awaits the start of the stage one of the 112th edition of the Tour de France. Photograph: Marco Bertorello\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n In early June, Soudal-Quick-Step<\/strong> nudged past 1,000 wins since their foundation; they will add to that in the next few weeks, targeting sprint stages with the European champion, Merlier.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.07 EDT<\/p>\n Ahead of the stage one rollout, the Tour de France<\/strong> have posted a plea to those coming out to watch the race to respect the riders. \u201cDon\u2019t run alongside them, don\u2019t touch them and don\u2019t throw anything at them.\u201d There\u2019s a video clip showing some previous incidents too.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s the profile of stage one<\/strong> of the Tour de France 2025<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Allow Instagram content?<\/p>\n This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.41 EDT<\/p>\n Here\u2019s an interesting fact for you all:<\/strong> the last time a Tour de France<\/strong> stage finished in Lille<\/strong> was 11 years ago and it was won by Marcel Kittel<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Giant Shimano team rider Marcel Kittel of Germany celebrates on the podium after winning the fourth stage of the 2014 Tour de France between Le Touquet-Paris-Plage and Lille M\u00e9tropole. Photograph: Bas Czerwinski\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Jeremy Whittle<\/p>\n My colleague Jeremy Whittle<\/strong> has written about Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/strong> and Jonas Vingegaard<\/strong>\u2019s rivalry \u2013 sure to be a key theme again at this year\u2019s TdF:<\/p>\n The pair, whose rivalry is becoming one of the Tour\u2019s most longstanding, will be locked in battle again this month with Poga\u010dar widely expected to hammer home the supremacy of the past 18 months with another win.<\/p>\n The UAE Team Emirates leader says he is \u201cconfident and ready\u201d. Certainly his team, memorably bushwhacked by Vingegaard\u2019s Visma-Lease a Bike teammate Simon Yates on the penultimate stage of this year\u2019s Giro<\/a>, will want payback.<\/p>\n Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, and onas Vingegaard, pump fists prior to the twelfth stage of the Tour de France 2024. Photograph: Daniel Cole\/AP<\/p>\n In a tricky and tortuous opening to the Tour that will test every rider\u2019s mettle, the biggest threat to Poga\u010dar will be crashing. He has already ended up in a ditch this year, during the Italian gravel race Strade Bianche. Even then, he went on to win<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first week of the Tour is one of the most intense and nervous weeks,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can quite easily lose the race in the first 10 days to the first rest day.<\/p>\n A lot can happen in such a long race, but I\u2019m looking forward to racing against Jonas again. He\u2019s in great shape. It will be a great month for people in front of the TV and beside the road.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.22 EDT<\/p>\n Stage one: Lille M\u00e9tropole to Lille M\u00e9tropole, 184.9km<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a look at today\u2019s stage, Saturday 5 July: Lille M\u00e9tropole to Lille M\u00e9tropole, 184.9km, with William Fotheringham<\/strong>\u2019s preview:<\/p>\n The climbs of Mont Cassel and Le Mont Noir won\u2019t be enough to split the peloton, so this is almost guaranteed to be a bunch sprint, unless it gets windy. A strong westerly would make this a nightmare with more than 140km of crosswinds, but if it stays calm it\u2019s a first big test for Jasper Philipsen, Tim Merlier and the other fast men. For the favourites, a first day of trying to stay upright.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n\n
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