Cavendish struggles as Bardet wins first Tour stage

Britain’s Mark Cavendish struggled connected shape 1 of nan Tour de France, and is group to decorativeness much than 30 minutes down nan peloton.

France's Romain Bardet of DSM-Firmenich-PostNL won nan Grand Depart from Florence to Rimini successful Italy.

Bardet's team-mate Frank van den Broek was 2nd pursuing a breakaway from nan 2 riders which saw nan brace conscionable decorativeness seconds up of nan closing peloton.

Cavendish is attempting to break nan Tour de France grounds for shape wins he shares pinch Belgian fable Eddy Merckx connected 34.

The 39-year-old came retired of status past twelvemonth aft coming wrong centimetres of breaking nan record, earlier abandoning nan title pinch a surgery collarbone pursuing a crash.

More to follow.

1. Romain Bardet (Fra/DSM-firmenich PostNL) 5hrs 07mins 22secs

2. Frank van den Broek (Ned/DSM-firmenich PostNL) Same time

3. Wout van Aert (Bel/Visma-Lease a Bike) +5 secs

4. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) Same time

5. Maxim van Gils (Bel/Lotto-dstny) "

6. Alex Aranburu (Spa/Movistar) "

7. Mads Pedersen (Den/Lidl-Trek) "

8. Remco Evenpoel (Bel/Soudal Quick-Step) "

9. Pello Bilbao (Spa/Bahrain Victorious) "

10. Alberto Bettiol (Ita/Education-Easy Post) "