Britain is in tears right after the very first stage: Cavendish falls and is badly injured and for him the Tour is over 300 yards from the finishing line – in front of his mother and Prime Minister David Cameron.
Stage 5, cobbled sections and heavy rain. The outcome? Chris Froome crashes out of the Tour! Last year’s defending champion and clear favourite for this year’s title had to be driven to hospital after a series of falls and injuries.
Stage 7: Peter Sagan loses by a tyre. Stage goes down to a photo-finish, which reveals that Matteo Trentin has edged Sagan by centimetres. Here you can see Trentin’s reaction right after the race. Sagan finished second during four stages of the 2014 Tour!
New Zealand’s Jack Bauer and Switzerland’s Martin Elmiger lead a break for over 200 kilometres but are swallowed up by the peloton in sight of the finishing line and Norway’s Alexander Kristoff wins the stage. The sprinters snatch victory from them just before the line. The famous photo shows Bauer crying helplessly.
Alberto Contador breaks his shinbone on a descent, yet still manages another 18 km. His team manager is shown helping him but later Contador had to give up and go to hospital anyway.
Poland’s Rafal Majka was originally not even supposed to be riding in the Tour, but after being brought in as a replacement for Czech rider Roman Kreuziger, the young racer performs fantastically well, winning two stages and recording a second and a third, and also grabs the polka dot jersey as King of the Mountains.
France celebrates the win of yellow jersey after three years of waiting. Tony Gallopin claims it on the Bastille Day.