Obviously, the likes of Marc Hirschi, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert will also be dreaming of the first yellow jersey. The finish climb on the Rue du Pontic in Landerneau kicks up to 14%.
Start and finish are only 20 kilometres away by road, yet the riders are to traverse a bumpy route of 187 kilometres through Brittany. The first part goes south and the riders move through places like Locronan and Quimper before returning via Monts the d’Arrée. Brutal climbs are not to be expected – the highest points of the 330 million years old mountain rises merely 385 metres above sea level.
Although the route is far from flat the peloton is likely to enter the last 3 kilometres bunched. The Côte de la Fosse aux Loups rises with an average gradient of 5.7% to the line. Featuring a steepest section at 14%, the first kilometre goes up at almost 10% before the ramp flattens out to a false flat in the last 500 metres.
The Grand Départ of 2020 boiled down to a rain-soaked sprint finish in Nice with Alexander Kristoff taking the first maillot jaune.
The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds.
Another interesting read: live race report 1st stage 2021 Tour de France.
Tour de France 2021 stage 1: routes, profiles, more
Click on the images to zoom
Related articles Favourites stage 1: Van der Poel for first maillot jaune - Tour de France 20 The Route - Tour de France 20 Riders - Tour de France 20 Withdrawals - Tour de France 20 Route and stages - Tour de France 20 GC Favourites - Tour de France 20 More articles Giro 2026: Route
Giro 2026 Route stage 1: Nesebăr – Burgas
Giro 2026 Route stage 2: Burgas - Veliko Tarnovo
Giro 2026 Route stage 3: Plovdiv - Sofia
Giro 2026 Route stage 5: Praia a Mare – Potenza
Giro 2026 Route stage 7: Formia - Blockhaus
Giro 2026 Route stage 8: Chieti - Fermo
Giro 2026 Route stage 9: Cervia – Corno alle Scale
Giro 2026 Route stage 13: Alessandria - Verbania
Giro 2026 Route stage 14: Aosta - Pila
Giro 2026 Route stage 16: Bellinzona - Carì
Giro 2026 Route stage 19: Feltre - Piani di Pezzè
Giro 2026 Route stage 20: Gemona del Friuli - Piancavallo
Cycling Calendar 2026
Vuelta 2026: Route & rumours
Tour de France 2026: Route
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 1: Barcelona - Barcelona
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 2: Tarragona - Barcelona
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 3: Granollers - Les Angles
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 6: Pau - Gavarnie-Gèdre
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 9: Malemort – Ussel
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 10: Aurillac - Le Lioran
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 14: Mulhouse - Le Markstein
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 15: Champagnole - Plateau de Solaison
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 16: Evian-les-Bains - Thonon-les-Bains
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 18: Voiron - Orcières-Merlette
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 19: Gap - Alpe d’Huez
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 20: Bourg d'Oissans - Alpe d'Huez
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 21: Thoiry - Paris