The French tricolor flies over the English countryside courtesy of the Royal Air Force Red Arrow aerobatic team.
More photos from Stage 1 of the 2014 Tour de France below, including a possible spoiler or two.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge wears a sprinter’s green dress as she talks with Geraint Thomas of Team Sky before the start of the start of the Tour de France at Harewood House on July 5, 2014 near Leeds, England. She attended the race start and finish with her husband Henry, Duke of Cambridge. That’s Mark Cavendish of Omega Pharma-Quick Step in the foreground.
Riders wait for the start of the 190.5 km first stage of the 101st edition of the Tour de France cycling race on July 5, 2014 between Leeds and Harrogate, northern England. The 2014 Tour de France gets underway on July 5 in the streets of Leeds and ends on July 27 down the Champs-Elysees in Paris
The riders climb up Grinton Moor during the Stage One of Le Tour de France on July 5, 2014 in Harrogate, England.
Britain’s Mark Cavendish grimaces in pain after a fall 300 yards from the finish line. It’s unclear if this World Champion sprinter will be able to continue the race after today.
Germany’s Marcel Kittel celebrates as he crosses the finish line ahead of Slovakia’s Peter Sagan (R) at the end of the 190.5 km first stage of the 101st edition of the Tour de France cycling race on July 5, 2014 between Leeds and Harrogate, northern England.