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 Nice with Alexander Kristoff taking the first maillot jaune.
Tour de France 2021 stage 1: route, profile, more
Click on the images to zoom
Related articles Route and stages - Tour de France 20 Winners and records - Tour de France More articles Tour of Valencia 2021 Route stage 3: Torrent - Alto de la Reina
Tour of Valencia 2021: Riders
Tour of Valencia 2021 Route stage 4: Chilches - Almenara
Tour of Valencia 2021 Route stage 5: Paterna - Valencia
Amstel Gold Race 2021: The Route
Amstel Gold Race 2021: Riders
Amstel Gold Race 2021: Favourites
Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition 2021: The Route
Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition 2021: Riders
Tour of the Alps 2021: The Route
Tour of the Alps 2021: Riders
Tour of the Alps 2021 Route stage 1: Brixen – Innsbruck
Tour of the Alps 2021 Route stage 2: Innsbruck – Feichten im Kaunertal
Tour of the Alps 2021 Route stage 3: Imst – Naturns
Tour de Romandie 2021: The Route
La Flèche Wallonne 2021: The Route
Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2021: The Route
Giro 2021: The Route
Giro 2021: Riders
Giro 2021: GC Favourites
Giro 2021 Route stage 1: Turin - Turin
Giro 2021 Favourites stage 1: Ganna's dash for pink
Giro 2021 Route stage 2: Stupinigi – Novara
Giro 2021 Favourites stage 2: First fast finishers showdown
Giro 2021 Route stage 3: Biella – Canale
Giro 2021 Favourites stage 3: Strong sprinters or late attackers
Cycling Calendar 2021
Vuelta 2021: The Route