Image source, ASO

The Grand Depart takes place in France for the first time since 2021 with a relatively flat route around Lille served up for starters.

That should mean the sprinters will get an early opportunity to take centre stage on the final straight below the Citadel, on the edge of the city centre.

There are just three categorised climbs while green jersey points will be on offer with a sprint about halfway through today's stage.

The finish in Lille will also be one of seven with extended safety zones in this year's Tour, with the usual three-kilometre buffer at the end of each stage increased to 5km to take the pressure off the peloton.

If you are looking for pointers as to where this year's race will be won and lost, feel free to have a gander at our Tour de France stage guide.

For the first time since 2020, this year's race will be held entirely in France.

The first week takes place across the north of France and will be targeted by the sprinters, rouleurs and puncheurs, as the opening nine days feature a mix of flat and hilly stages, with an individual time trial on day five.

The peloton will then head south with a summit finish at Puy de Sancy - one of five summit finishes in total - before the climbers battle it out in the mountains of the Pyrenees, with stage 13 being a mountain time trial.

Then it's over to the Alps as the final week begins with a stage to the iconic peak of Mont Ventoux, while this year's queen stage will see a summit finish atop the Col de la Loze.

And the race will revert to its traditional finish on the Champs-Elysees after last year's edition ended in Nice as the Olympics were being held in Paris.

Hello and welcome to the world's biggest and best cycling race.

Over the next three weeks, 184 riders will battle it out over 3,338.8km in the 112th edition of the Tour de France.

They are currently gathered in Lille for the Grand Depart, the first stage of this year's race.