The first stage of the 2014 Tour de France is in the books with Marcel Kittel taking the initial lead in the annual race, winning Stage 1 with an official time of 4 hours, 44 minutes and 7 seconds. The first stage took place in Leeds in Yorkshire, England, and is a 190.5 km course with two category 3 climbs and a single category 4 climb.
Tour de France 2014 results and standings, Stage 1: Marcel Kittel wins, Mark Cavendish crashes
Stage 1 of the Tour de France has concluded with Marcel Kittel taking the initial lead in the 21 stage event.
Morne de Klerk
Chris Froome, the favorite to win in 2014 and member of Britain’s Team Sky, finished sixth in the first stage after his teammate, Mark Cavendish went down in a nasty crash towards the end of the first stage.
Cavendish was in the final sprint for the finish line, looking like he’d finish in the Top 5 but made a move and ended up taking himself out. Cavendish leans to his left where Bryan Coquard was using his elbow to try and block, which pushed Coquard wide and Australian Simon Gerrans then barreled in as all three crashed.
Cavendish finished 192nd, visibly upset as he crossed the finish line.
The top six finished as follows:
1. Marcel Kittell - 04h 44’ 07”
2. Peter Sagan
3. Ramunas Navardauskas
4. Bryan Coquard
5. Michael Rogers
6. Christopher Froome
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