Stage by stage
How the race unfolded
Stage One Brussels, 194.5km
Mike Teunissen was a surprise winner of the first yellow jersey in Brussels when the lead-out man was given a rare opportunity after team-mate Dylan Groenewegen crashed in a hectic finale.
Stage Two Brussels Palais Royal to Brussels Atomium, 27.6km
Teunissen (above) and Jumbo-Visma dominated the time trial to leave Ineos stunned, having led from the beginning after being the first to roll down the starting ramp.
Stage Three Binche to Epernay, 215km
As the Tour entered Champagne territory, a sparkling ride from the swashbuckling Julian Alaphilippe gave France its first win of the year while also propelling him into the yellow jersey.
Stage Four Reims to Nancy,
213.5km Elia Viviani took the line honours on a day that was set aside for the sprinters to complete back-to-back wins for DeceuninckQuick Step and a maiden Tour stage for the Italian.
Stage Five St-Die-desVosges to Comar, 175.5km
It was a lumpy route, one for the all-rounders and perfect for Peter Sagan who stepped up to win his 12th career stage and tighten his grip
on the green jersey. Stage Six Mulhouse to La Planche des Belles Filles, 160.5km
Dylan Teuns won on La Planche des Belles Filles, Giulio Ciccone climbed into yellow and Geraint Thomas was the best of the main contenders. Action packed, but failed to enlighten us on who had the form to win the Tour.
Stage Seven Belfort to Chalon-sur-Saone, 230km
Groenewegen claimed his first and JumboVisma’s third win of the race after the Dutchman somehow woke up in time to contest the sprint and finally end the Tour’s longest – and dullest – stage.
Stage Eight Macon to St-Etienne, 200km
Thomas De Gendt went hard and went big before the breakaway specialist won a quite brilliant stage into Saint-Etienne while further back all sorts of chaos unfolded (left) as Thomas crashed and lost time.
Stage Nine St-Etienne to Brioude, 170.5km
Another day, another win from the break but, alas, no stage win for France on Bastille Day. It was joy for stage winner Daryl Impey, though, while Alaphilippe managed to retain the maillot jaune.
Stage 10 St-Flour to Albi, 217.5km
Jumbo-Visma whirlwind Wout van Aert won the stage, but the day will be best remembered for its crosswinds when Thibaut Pinot was put in the gutter, his dreams dashed.
Stage 11 Albi to Toulouse, 167km
A classic transition stage that gave television viewers and photographers their first sights of the field of sunflowers. It also provided the canvas for a sprinters’ battle
royal in which Caleb Ewan edged out Groenewegen.
Stage 12 Toulouse to Bagneres-de-Bigorre, 209.5km
Simon Yates (above) became the eighth rider to win his maiden Tour stage when the Briton outsprinted Pello Bilbao and Gregor Muhlberger on the first day in the Pyrenees.
Stage 13 Pau to Pau, 27.2km
Having already sent shock waves through the race, Alaphilippe’s win in the time trial in Pau – a crushing 14-second defeat of favourite Thomas – meant the Frenchman became an overnight hero as the host nation started to believe.
Stage 14 Tarbes to Tourmalet Bareges, 111km
It was the first day in the high mountains and one that saw Pinot (right) soar above his rivals to win on the mythical Tourmalet, the great Pyrenean behemoth on which Thomas cracked.
Stage 15 Limoux to Foix Prat d’Albis, 185km
Simon Yates won the stage in some style, but the manner in which Pinot put time into Thomas and Egan Bernal started to make France believe this year really was their time.
Stage 16 Nimes to Nimes, 177km
Ewan cemented his place as the sprinter to beat after coming from behind to beat Viviani and Groenewegen while general classification hopeful Jakob Fuglsang crashed out and Thomas had another scare.
Stage 17 Pont du Gard to Gap, 200km
It was the final chance for the breakaway specialists and one which Matteo Trentin took with aplomb as he soloed to victory in Gap as the general classification riders called a truce.
Stage 18 Embrun to Valloire, 208km
Nairo Quintana rolled back the years with a brilliant win on the first of three back-to-back Alpine stages while Bernal leapfrogged team-mate Thomas and Alaphilippe (left) kept the dream alive by holding on to yellow.
Stage 19 St-JeandeMaurienne to Tignes, 126.5km
A chaotic day in which Pinot abandoned and Alaphilippe cracked as Bernal rode into the leader’s yellow jersey, but not before the mountainous stage had been curtailed by a hailstorm and landslides.
Stage 20 Albertville to Val Thorens, 59.5km
Vincenzo Nibali won in the Alps as Bernal sealed a first Tour for Colombia. Romain Bardet crowned king of the mountains, small consolation for France, with Alaphilippe dropping out of the overall top three.