The best pictures from stage one of the Tour de France 2019
Throughout the French Grand Tour we'll be bringing you the best pictures from the race
One of the best things about July is watching the Tour de France from the comfort of your sofa. However, millions get close up to the action, lining the thousands of kilometres across 21 stages.
Amongst them are the intrepid race photographers. We will be bringing you their best work every day throughout the race.
Fans stand on the statue of Godfrey of Bouillon at the King's Square to catch a glimpse of the peloton roll out for the opening stage of the Tour de France 2019
Wherever Peter Sagan goes, his fans follow
The location of Brussels for the 2019 Grand Départ was selected to honour Eddy Merckx and the 50th anniversary of his first Tour de France victory
Defending champion Geraint Thomas and Belgian Greg Van Avermaet chat at the front of the start line, waiting to meet the race dignitaries
The rest of the peloton wait between swathes of fans for the rollout
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A message of support for Chris Froome from a British fan
A Belgian policewoman and her dog stand by waiting for the start of the first stage
The famous Manneken Pis statue dressed in the yellow jersey
Eddy Merckx out the top of the race car waiting to get the 106th edition of the Tour underway
Bet your Eddy Merckx impression isn't as good as this guy's
The peloton passes by wind turbines
The cobbled sectors on stage one gave the Tour de France a very Belgian feel
Geraint Thomas on the cobbles
Alexis Gougeard was one of a number of victims claimed by the pavé
Jakob Fuglsang was brought down in a crash 20km from the finish
Another crash in the closing kilometres claims stage favourite Dylan Groenewegen
Geraint Thomas was also involved, but despite crossing the line having lost time it was within 3km of the finish so won't affect his standing in the GC
The sprinters dash for the line...
Mike Teunissen pips Peter Sagan to a shock stage victory
The first yellow jersey belongs to Mike Teunissen, with the added honour of being presented it by Eddy Merckx
Greg Van Avermaet claimed the polka dot jersey after going on the attack early in the stage
That feeling when a Belgian rider doesn't win on home roads...
Read our full stage one race report here.
We will be back tomorrow to bring you photos from stage two of the 2019 Tour de France.
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Jonny was Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor until 2022.
I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
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