From the Grand Depart in Normandy to the burning heat of the Pyrenees. From frantic sprint finishes to audacious attacks and solo victories. From tears of joy to cries of despair. From GC shake downs to rougue flamme rouges. We’ve got it all covered in our bumper edition of Final Kilometres from week one of Le Tour de France.

Stage 1: Mont-Saint-Michel to Utah Beach Sainte-Marie-du-Mont

And we’re off! The stage was set for a full tilt sprint finish and the fast men didn’t disappoint. Mark Cavendish got the jump on Marcel Kittel and Peter Sagan for win 27 and his first ever maillot jaune. Watch out for Miss Cavendish, she’s a natural on the podium. Alberto Contador took a heavy fall and lost time, as did several riders on the frantic run in.  Our review is here.

Stage 2: Saint-Lô to Cherbourg

Cherbourg produced a stage win and a first ever yellow jersey at the end of Peter Sagan‘s all out, uphill, rainbow raid. Jesper Stuyven receives some polka dotted consolation after his ride for glory was caught in the final kilometre. Our review is here.

Stage 3: Granville to Angers

A quiet and tranquil stage ended with a sizzler of a sprint finish. Mark Cavendish just pipped Andre Greipel for his second win at the race. We had to stand up and applaud Armindo Fonseca – most of the day on his own in the break and not even the combative prize at the end of it. Our review is here. 

Stage 4: Saumur to Limoges

Marcel Kittel went shoulder to shoulder with Bryan Coquard on an uphill finish with the ArgoSunGod finally taking a win at the Grand Bouclee. Marcel kept the power on, Bryan rocked and rolled, and both collapsed to the ground as they waited for the photo finish result. Sprint finishes don’t come much better than this. Our review is here. 

Stage 5: Limoges to Le Lioran

Greg van Avermaet rode away from his break companions to take a beautiful solo win and the yellow jersey in one grand tour day out. Behind him some big names lost time including Vincenzo Nibali.  Romain Bardet attacked in the finale and a wounded Baby Blackbird was left to struggle alone – all is not well in the Tinkoff bus we fear. Our review is here.

Stage 6: Arpajon-sur-Cère to Montauban

CAVENDEEEEEEEEESH!!! Yes siree  Mark Cavendish made it win number three at this Tour and number 29 in total. What a record, what a sprinter, and as we said in our podcast – NEVER write Cav off at this race. We didn’t just get one British sprinter on the podium, we got two! Look out for Dan McLay‘s late surge to nab third. Our review is here. 

Stage 7: l’Isle-Jourdain to Lac de Payolle

Steve Cummings did what only Steve Cummings can do. Got in the break, soloed away with 26km to go, and was never seen again until his tearful victory salute. This time he TT’d his way up the Col d’Aspin keeping a whole bunch of GC contenders at bay. What a week for Dimension Data 4 wins from 7 stages. Greg van Avermaet rode the race of his life, it’s not often you see the maillot jaune get in the break and attack solo. We dare you to watch this video and not yell out loud.

And if you missed it, here is this week’s Le Tour Tweets of the Week!

Header image: Sunflowers from stage 7-  © ASO/A.Broadway