Tour De France 2018 Stage 1

Britain's Chris Froome crashed during the opening stage of the Tour de France as his quest to win a record-equalling fifth title began with a scare.

The defending champion careered off the road on a left-hand bend in the closing stages but was quickly back racing.

Froome is 61 seconds behind stage winner Fernando Gaviria and 51 seconds behind several rivals for the title but alongside fellow Briton Adam Yates.

"I've not been checked by the team doctor but I feel fine," said Froome.

"I'm OK, we saw a lot of crashes out there but we knew the first few days were going to be tricky.

"We were at the front of the peloton so there was not much more the guys could've done - it was just chaotic with the sprinters up there.

"I'm just grateful I'm not injured in any way and there is plenty of racing left to Paris."


Stage one result

1. Fernando Gaviria (Col/Quick-Step Floors) 4hrs 23mins 32secs
2. Peter Sagan (Svk/Bora-Hansgrohe) same time
3. Marcel Kittel (Ger/Katusha-Alpecin)
4. Alexander Kristoff (Nor/UAE Team Emirates)
5. Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis)
6. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned/LottoNL-Jumbo)
7. Michael Matthews (Aus/Team Sunweb)
8. John Degenkolb (Ger/Trek-Segafredo)
9. Jakob Fuglsang (Den/Astana)
10. Rafal Majka (Pol/Bora-Hansgrohe)

General classification after stage one

1. Fernando Gaviria (Col/Quick-Step Floors) 4hrs 23mins 32secs
2. Peter Sagan (Svk/Bora-Hansgrohe) +4secs
3. Marcel Kittel (Ger/Katusha-Alpecin) +6secs
4. Oliver Naesen (Bel/AG2R La Mondiale) +9secs
5. Alexander Kristoff (Nor/UAE Team Emirates) +10secs
6. Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis) same time
7. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned/LottoNL-Jumbo)
8. Michael Matthews (Aus/Team Sunweb)
9. John Degenkolb (Ger/Trek-Segafredo)
10. Jakob Fuglsang (Den/Astana)

Selected:
14. Geraint Thomas (GB/Team Sky)
36. Mark Cavendish (GB/Team Dimension Data)
84. Adam Yates (GB/Mitchelton-Scott) +1min 1secs
91. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) same time