For the 20th time in history, the Tour de France will be hold its grand depart outside of the host nation. Join The Roar for live commentary of the first stage from 11:00pm AEST.
The city of Leeds, in England, will host the first stage of the 2014 Tour de France as the teams head through Yorkshire in the first two stages of the event.
It is the fourth time the Tour has been in the UK, and the second time the Tour has started in Britain.
This year’s race will start with a normal stage, instead of a prologue, which has been the usual start of the tour since 1967. The first stage, which will go from Leeds to Harrogate, is 190.5 kilometres in length.
Despite having climbs during the stage it is categorised as one that will be dominated by the sprinters. There are three hills, with two category 3 and one category 4 climbs on the way to Harrogate.
The first one, Cray, is at 68 kilometres with the other two – Buttertubs and Grinton Moor – at 103.5 and 129.5 kilometres in the stage. With the final climb completed around 60 kilometres from the finish, it really shouldn’t hamper the sprinters, as they look to start the tour with a win and the yellow jersey.
The sentimental favourite for the stage is British rider Mark Cavendish.
Cavendish, who has won 25 stages at the Tour, would love nothing more than to win the stage on home soil. If he was to win the stage he would also wear the Maillot Jaune at the Tour de France for the first time in his career.
His sprint speed in the last 30 metres is the best of any rider and he is hardly beaten when he is given the perfect lead in by his team.
The bookies favourite though is Marcel Kittel, who has a history of winning the opening stage of the Tour. Last year he won the first stage and wore the yellow jersey for one day. He is every chance to repeat that.
Others to look out for in the stage include Andre Greipel, Peter Sagan and John Degenkolb.
From an Australian perspective the best chance comes from the Australian team in Orica Orica-GreenEDGE. Mark Renshaw is also a potential chance of a surprise, but he will be used as a lead-in rider for fellow sprinter Cavendish.
If Cavendish isn’t around then expect Renshaw to attack for the race win, but that is highly unlikely.
It promises to be a big first stage as the sprinters have their day on the streets of Yorkshire.
Prediction
Mark Cavendish to win in a bunch sprint.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
That is it from me in the blog. Thanks for joining in. Stage 2 will be tomorrow night. Join the Roar as we cover all stages of the Tour.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
So Kittel is in yellow for the second straight year after the first stage. Peter Sagan will be in the Green Jersey tomorrow. The whole focus will be on Cavendish though. It looks to be a bad injury and one that will eliminate him from the event. Hopefully Gerrans is alright too.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Top 5 - Marcel Kittel, Peter Sagan, Ramūnas Navardauskas, Bryan Coquard and Michael Rogers. Michael Rogers is the best Australia in 5th position.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
It is hard to tell who is in the wrong. Gerrans pushed to the right and Cavendish tried to push through the gap while using his head to move Gerrans away. Cavendish is holding his shoulder. Lets hope it isn't a collarbone or a shoulder injury.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Marcel Kittel beats Peter Sagan and takes the first stage of the Tour De France. Mark Cavendish is involved in the crash and Australian Simon Gerrans is also involved.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
He is caught and there is a massive crash.
Rob McHugh
Roar Guru
Of course he had to cheer Armstrong, Lance was first for 7 years. He literally couldn't call the race without him.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Fabian Cancellara attacks in the final kilometre.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
1 KILOMETRE TO GO - Cofidis come from no-where and take the lead at the front but fall away quickly. Omega Pharma Quickstep still lead.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
2 KILOMETRES - Omega Pharma QuickStep are still at the front. Giant Shimano are trying to push up to them from the right.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
3 KILOMETRES TO GO - Omega Pharma QuickStep take the lead at the front of the Peloton. They have started to attack. Have they gone too early though?
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
5 KILOMETRES TO GO - Lotto Belisol take the front again and the pace is starting lift quickly. All the big punchers are there. Greipel, Cavendish, Kittel and Sagan.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
9 KILOMETRES TO GO - Astana and Katusha move to the front and start to dictate the pace.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
To be fair to Liggett, many people fell for Armstrong and what he did.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
10 KILOMETRES TO GO - Nothing much has changed as the teams start to figure out what to do in the sprint. Expect the action to start soon.
magila cutty
Guest
Just turned to sbs for a look at the tour. Gotta say i can't stomach listening to Phil Liggot anymore. Nobody cheered louder or longer for cyclings Satan, Armstrong. SBS need to dump him.
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
BREAKING NEWS via Twitter: The Orica Green Edge bus has made it under the finish line banner, there will be no blocking of the finish line this year, all is well.
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
BREAKING NEWS (via Twitter): The Orica Green Edge bus has made it under the finish line banner, all is well.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
15 KILOMETRES TO GO - The Peloton have lifted their pace a little bit. Andre Greipel and Peter Sagan move to the front of the Peloton and start to set up position for the Sprint.
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
I think everyone is just waiting because if they went off then Giant, Omega and Lotto would just work together to pull them back in.