Mark Cavendish donned the yellow jersey for the first time in his long career after winning the opening round of the Tour de France. (Getty)
Mark Cavendish claimed the yellow jersey of the Tour de France for the first time in his career by taking the opening stage in a sprint finish at Utah Beach on Saturday.
The veteran beat out a host of star sprinters, including Marcel Kittel, Andre Greipel, and Peter Sagan.
Alberto Contador took a scary spill halfway through Stage 1, but was able to ride on and finish with the peloton.
Stage 2 is mostly flat, and along the coast, which means viewers can expect speed, agility and a frantic sprint at the end.
The Tour will take place from Jul 2 to 24. This year’s “Grand Boucle” begins in picturesque Normandy before moving south to the Pyrenees, over to the Alps, and back up for its historic finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. There are 21 stages in all.
Stage 1 Results:
1. Mark Cavendish
2. Marcel Kittel
3. Peter Sagan
4. André Greipel
5. Edward Theuns
6. Christophe Laporte
7. Bryan Coquard
8. Alexander Kristoff
9. Daniel McLay
10. 6 riders + 3″
Tour De France Details
Where: 188 km from Saint-Lô to Cherbourg Octeville
When: Sunday, July 3
Time: 7 a.m. Eastern
TV Channel: NBC Sports (USA) with the pre-show beginning at 7:30 a.m.