Mike Teunissen wins the opening sprint Stage at the Tour de France

Mike Teunissen (Jumbo-Visma) outgunned Peter Sagan and Caleb Ewan to take the Yellow Jersey!

The opening 194km stage started and finished in Belgium's capital city and commemorated the 50th anniversary of Eddy Merckx’s first victory on La Grande Boucle.

The stage included the iconic spring classic climbs of the Mur de Grammont and the Bosberg after 43 kms of racing.

Four riders got the breakaway and built up a a lead of 3m 24s which included Greg Van Avermaet (CCC Team), Mads Würtz Schmidt (Katusha-Alpecin), Natnael Berhane (Cofidis Solutions Credits), Xandro Meurisse (Wanty-Gobert Cycling Team)

Greg Van Avermaet (CCC Team) was in the break to take the KOM Polka Dot jersey which he secured on the two classic climbs and then dropped back to the main peloton.

The breakaway was swallowed up with 60 kms to go, for a likely bunch sprint.

Peter Sagan started his bid for the 7th Green Jersey and took the intermediate sprint.

As the bunch got nervous and the pace picked up, with 20 kms to go there was a crash but no one was badly hurt, Astana riders were delayed

Fulgsang and Tony Martin were held up in the foray, with Fulgsang seen holding onto the race doctor's car bleeding.

The pace picked up and with 5 kms to go, the bumping and barging began as everyone fought to be at the front.

There was the enevitable crash with 3 kms to go which saw sprint favorite Dylan Groenewegen hit the deck, ruining his hopes of an opening stage victory.

In the final sprint, Matthews launched 300 metres out, but Sagan, Ewan and Teunissen burst past.

Teunissen just edged out Sagan on the line which came down to a photo finish.

Despite going down in the closing metres of stage one with 1.6 kms to go, defending champion Geraint Thomas was able to remount and finish the stage. Team Ineos says he feels fine.

VIDEO:  Stage 1 Highlights

2019 Tour de France Stage Result Top 10

1 Mike Teunissen (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma 4:22:47
2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe
3 Caleb Ewan (Aus) Lotto Soudal
4 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Dimension Data
5 Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida
6 Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb
7 Matteo Trentin (Ita) Mitchelton-Scott
8 Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale
9 Elia Viviani (Ita) Deceuninck-QuickStep
10 Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo

2019 Tour de France General classification after stage 1

1 Mike Teunissen (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma 4:22:37
2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe
3 Caleb Ewan (Aus) Lotto Soudal
4 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Dimension Data
5 Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida
6 Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb
7 Matteo Trentin (Ita) Mitchelton-Scott
8 Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale
9 Elia Viviani (Ita) Deceuninck-QuickStep
10 Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo