Tour de France

VeloNews Events Tour de France

Tour de France

Photo Essay: The Tour races through Normandy

The 2016 Tour de France began with three stages in the Normandy region, an area rich in world history.

July 7, 2016 BrakeThrough Media

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.

2016 — Enthusiastic crowds packed the square in historic Sainte-Mère-Eglise for the official teams presentation of the 2016 Tour de France. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — After the military vehicle caravan and the on-stage presentation, each team rode to the “Kilometer 0” marker, also known as borne, in front of the city hall. Each borne marks one kilometer of 1,146 on the Voie de Liberté — the Allied Liberation in 1944. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Mark Cavendish played down his chances in the big sprint finishes of the Tour de France even with a team built around him as its leader. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Tinkoff got a special introduction onstage as Peter Sagan was prompted to introduce each of his teammates, much to the crowd’s amusement. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Nairo Quintana returned to the Tour de France with one of the strongest teams behind him, including Alejandro Valverde as his top domestique. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Defending champion Chris Froome arrived in top form off his win at the Critérium du Dauphiné, looking for a repeat victory in 2016. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Riders made the customary rounds at the sign-on stage, signing autographs and posing for photos on stage 1. Photo: Léon van Bon / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Race favorites Nairo Quintana and Alberto Contador had a friendly chat on the line before the official start of the 2016 Tour de France at Mont Saint-Michel. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The official rolll-out of the Tour opener was made all the more majestic with the Mont Saint-Michel as a backdrop. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — In a region teeming with WWII history, the parcours running along the Manche-Normandie coastline was full of reminders of American-French unity. Photo: Léon van Bon / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Stage 1 of this year’s race was run along the Normandy seaside and over narrow roads with numerous rolling hills. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Mark Cavendish silenced his critics with a definitive sprint victory at Utah Beach, also taking the first maillot jaune of his career. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Alberto Contador’s 2016 Tour did not start well after a hard crash in the opening stage saw him land heavily on his shoulder and hip. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — All the race chaperones and media frenzy could not contain Mark Cavendish’s jubilant celebration after his stage win in Utah Beach. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Mark Cavendish finally claimed that elusive yellow jersey with victory on the opening stage. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — A moment of silence was observed at Utah Beach after the conclusion of stage 1 in Normandy. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The start line of stage 2 was nestled against a medieval castle in Saint-Lô under a dark and stormy morning. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Lotto Soudal arrived at the sign-on stage united in their cause to “Fight for Stig” just before they were presented with team honors on stage 2. Photo: Léon van Bon / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Mark Cavendish was treated to a surprise visit on the start line from a troupe of Moulin Rouge dancers before the start of stage 2 in Saint-Lô. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Stage 2 started adjacent to the walled city of Saint-Lô in the Normandy region of France as part of the 2016 Grand Depart. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — All across the Manche-Normadie, fans lined the course with much color, flair, and celebration for their pride in hosting the Grand Départ. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Jasper Stuyven of Trek – Segafredo animated the race on stage 2, leading the breakaway through Coutances. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The peloton passed at the foot of the Cathedral in Coutances as fans cheered from the side of the road and every window and balcony in town. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The uphill finish in Cherbourg was a perfect finale for world champion Peter Sagan to take a victory and his first maillot jaune of the Tour de France. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Amidst a sea of fans, one Slovakian supporter stood tall for Peter Sagan. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Peter Sagan wouldn’t let his world champion stripes be forgotten by his new yellow jersey at stage 2 of the Tour de France. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Geraint Thomas brought his own kind of fan to the start in Granville for stage 3. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Keeping a relatively low profile, Nairo Quintana bided his time by playing it safe while the sprinters had their go in the opening stages. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Peter Sagan took the start line in Granville for the obligatory series of VIP photos and handshakes before the roll-out. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Stage 3 started under more gloomy skies while the peloton rolled out along the working harbor in Granville. Photo: Léon van Bon / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Fans cheered on the side of the course where they’d staged a vintage car meet-up. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — On stage 3 of the Tour, the peloton slowly made its way over the undulating roads of Normandy, finally arriving in Angers nearly 30 minutes behind the slowest predicted time. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The peloton rode past ancient fortified backdrops along the parcours on stage 3. Photo: Léon van Bon / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Eritrean spectators jumped and sang in the crowd behind the finish line supporting their countryman Natnael Berhane of Dimension Data. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — André Greipel sprinted to the line in hopes of securing a victory on stage 3 in Angers. Photo: Léon van Bon / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Cavendish and Griepel fought all the way to the line in Angers, with the race swinging to the Brit by millimeters over the German. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — While the sprint was under review by the jury, both Cavendish and Greipel waited in suspended animation for the result. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The moment André Greipel found out he lost the race by mere millimeters. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The media scrum at the Tour de France is an event of its own and the finish in Angers on stage 3 was no exception. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Mark Cavendish’s daughter Delilah caught the maillot vert Skoda mascot as her dad was awarded the green jersey on stage. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — At the conclusion of the three days of the Manche-Normandie Grand Départ, Peter Sagan remained in yellow. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

Tom Pidcock: I dream of winning the Tour de France, but maybe not next year

Intermarché hints at potential Tour de France start for Biniam Girmay in 2023

Tour de France: Yates, Groenewegen, Matthews a possible three-pronged approach for BikeExchange

An American in France

What’s it like to be an American cyclist living in France? Watch to get professional road cyclist Joe Dombrowski’s view.

Keywords:

Native
Wilier

Related content from the Outside Network

One Way South

Mountain Bikers React to Their First Taste of Non-Alcoholic Craft Beer

Video review: BMC URS 01 Two gravel bike

Kiel Reijnen Vuelta Video Diary: The painful decision to abandon