The Grand Depart takes place in France for the first time since 2021 with a relatively flat route around Lille served up for starters. That should mean the sprinters will get an early opportunity to take centre stage on the final straight below the Citadel, on the edge of the city centre.

Jasper Philipsen emerges from the chaos to win stage 1 of Tour de France in Lille - The Belgian collected the 10th Tour de France stage of his career as Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic lost valuable