Despite a horrific-looking crash during the lead-in to the sprint finish of Stage 1 of the 2016 Tour de France, all 198 riders were counted as finishing. The even number means that no Point d’Appui could be awarded on Stage 1.

On les Cuspides were Emanuel Buchmann of Bora-Argon 18 in 99th place and Simon Geschke of Team Giant-Alpecin in 100th place.

Former winners of the Point d’Appui racing this year include:

• 2005 winner Andriy Grivko of Astana Pro Team, who finished 41st today.
• 2006 winner Paolo Tiralongo of Astana Pro Team, who finished 89th today.
• 2011 winner Markel Irizar of Trek-Segafredo, who finished 34th today.
• 2012 winner Vasil Kiryienka of Team Sky, who finished 84th today.

The 188 kilometer first stage was relatively level with a couple of Category 4 climbs and one intermediate sprint. An early break of five riders allowed the peloton to proceed without too much worry save that part of the course had mild cross winds.

Nevertheless, two-time Tour winner Alberto Contador took a hard fall after he and Brent Bookwalter of BMC miscalculated a turn at too high a speed and touched wheels coming out of a roundabout. Both Bookwalter and Contador tumbled into a median, and then Luke Row of Sky somersaulted over them. All three suffered skin abrasions but no broken bones apparently.

The crash near the bunch finish occurred when Michael Morkov of Katusha drifted just a bit too wide to the right of the narrow chute. He appeared to clip the foot of a barrier standard although he said afterward he thought perhaps he had clipped a spectator standing outside the barrier. Either way, he was sent sprawling, first to his left into other riders and then back into the barrier where he was whipped around to the pavement. Sam Bennett of Bora-Argon 18, Edvald Boasson Hagen of Dimension Data and Geraint Thomas of Sky also went down in the careening of riders trying to avoid Morkov. All limped home but whether they are up to starting Stage 2 remains a question mark. Morkov has held the Point d’Appui on a couple of occasions in earlier Tours de France.

Marc Cavendish of Dimension Data won Stage 1, steaming past Marcel Kittell and Peter Sagan in the final 100 meters. It is the first time that Cavendish has earned the Maillot Jaune during his distinguished career. Timo Roosen of Team LottoNl-Jumbo is the Lanterne Rouge.