The Visma-Lease a Bike team of Jonas Vingegaard were the protagonists, with several contenders for the overall classification — including Remco Evenepoel — distanced as the echelons formed. That main part of the peloton, which also contained Primoz Roglic and Geraint Thomas, ended up losing 49 seconds to the stage winner.

Jasper Philipsen won the opening stage of the Tour de France in a sprint to the line Saturday and defending champion Tadej Pogacar finished safely. Pogacar is looking to win the showcase race for a fourth time on the back of great form this season.

There were mixed fortunes for the thousands of Belgian fans who poured over the border for the opening stage of the Tour de France