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Photos: The most dramatic moments from week 1 of the Tour

BrakeThrough Media revisits the drama of the Tour's first week, from the shores of Normandy to the high mountains of the Pyrenees.

July 29, 2016 BrakeThrough Media

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2016 — Le Grand Départ of the 2016 edition Tour de France commenced in Manches-Normandie. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The peloton rolled out on the neutral start against the famed backdrop of the Mont Saint-Michel. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Stage 1 traversed the Normandy coastline bringing the race to the storied beaches of WWII battles for liberation. Photo: Léon van Bon / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Mark Cavendish rejoiced in his stage 1 victory at Utah Beach. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The Lotto – Soudal squad joined together to support their fallen teammate — still in a coma — with “Fight for Stig” wristbands. Photo: Léon van Bon / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Mark Cavdendish played the coy boy to the chorus of Moulin Rouge girls in Saint-Lô. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — World champion Peter Sagan and Julian Alaphilippe went head to head in the sprint to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The publicity caravan passsed through the start in Granville passing out trinkets and goodies to spectators. Photo: Léon van Bon / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — André Greipel sprinted for the line in the final meters at Angers. Photo: Léon van Bon / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Mark Cavendish awaited news from the jury about the hotly contested sprint with Greipel in stage 3. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The peloton rolled through scenic villages and byways of the Massif Central. Photo: Léon van Bon / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Marcel Kittel and Bryan Coquard shoulder-checked each other in yet another intense sprint finish on stage 4. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — News reached Marcel Kittel after the jury had to deliberate on the photo finish in Limoges. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Mechanics got busy with the daily task of keeping riders’ bikes and wheels in top condition during the Tour de France. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The race got underway on stage 5 in Limoges. Photo: Léon van Bon / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Fans awaited the arrival of the race along the course to Le Lioran — could be the best seats in the whole of the Tour de France. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Greg Van Avermaet claimed a heroic win and captured the yellow jersey on stage 5 into Le Lioran. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The podium flowers flew through a sea of blue into the crowd. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Newly-minted maillot à pois Thomas de Gendt was the first to arrive at the start line in Arpajon-Sur-Cére. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Back-to-back days of blaring sun forced some fans to seek shelter amid the foliage. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Mark Cavendish was congratulated by sprint rival Daniel McLay (Fortuneo – Vital Concept) after the line in Montauban. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The peloton passed through fields of sunflowers while a race photographer captured the moment among the bloom. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The official Tour de France time keeper, or ardoisière, Claire Pedrono led the front of the peloton through the iconic hay fields of France en route to the Pyrénées. Photo: Léon van Bon / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The group of favorites crested the Col d’Aspin on the first big mountain stage of the 2016 Tour de France in the Hautes Pyrénées. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The hors categorie climb, Col du Tourmalet, presented the perfect foreshadowing for the punishing climbs to come in the Pyrénées. Photo: Leon Van Bon / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Romain Bardet and Joaquim Rodriguez pushed through the fans and the effort on the Col de Peyresourde just 15 kilmometers before the finish in Bagnères-de-Luchon. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Chris Froome risked it all on the descent of the Col de Peyresourde into Bagnères-de-Luchon to steal the day and the yellow jersey on stage 8. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Pierre Rolland arrived at the finish in Bagnères-de-Luchon bloodied but not broken. Photo: Leon Van Bon / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Maillot jaune Chris Froome received the media at the start of stage 9 in Spain. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Just 19 kilometers into the stage, the leaders climbed up the category 1 Port de la Bonaigua in the Spanish Pyrénées. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Peter Sagan descended the day’s first big climb en route to the finish of week one in Andorra. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Alberto Contador abandoned the race midway through stage 9 after suffering from multiple injuries and a lack of recovery that plagued his first week. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Tom Dumoulin stole the show on the hors categorie finish in Andorre Arcalis despite freezing temperatures, hail, and wind. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Andorra’s local hero Rodriguez showed signs of the day’s conditions, efforts, and tempo. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Under the watchful eye of a Cannondale – Drapac soigneur Rolland braced against the frigid rain after the finish line in Andorre Arcalis. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The climb up to Andorre Arcalis brought the Tour’s first week to a close with a dramatic finale. Photo: Leon Van Bon / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

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