Tour de France Femmes Stage 1 Live: Sprint opener

Wiebes still looks fantastic in the SD Worx train for now.

Movistar hit the front in aid of Van Vleuten's safety, but will the GC riders have a crack on the first climb?

Deignan takes to the front for Lidl-Trek now as they continue to shred things on the front. Reusser is the only rider in front of Vollering for now. Kool is still in the group with Pfeiffer Georgi. 

Jumbo-Visma suddenly appear with Vos still present of course. She'd been hiding away nicely and will fancy her chances to get over this climb and still have an explosive sprint. 

14KM TO GO

Full on sprint leadout going into the categorised climb here from Hanson for Trek and Bredewold for SD Worx. 

Vittoria Guazzini (FDJ-SUEZ) is the next to drop. She would've been a sprint option for the French team today had she made it, but the infernal pace being set by SD Worx and Lidl-Trek is way too fast for a lot of riders today. 

Here's the profile of our final and only climb. It's nothing crazy on paper, but the peloton has been drilling it all day in the heat. There's splits all over the road and the race could explode even on this small climb. 

20KM TO GO

Barbieri, Balsamo and Consonni are reportedly dropped from this front group. Italian sprinters struggling under the high pace. 

Deignan took the full 25 points at the intermediate sprint point. With Balsamo dropped, Lidl-Trek may try and light up the climb to drop Wiebes and Kool which would give Deignan a better chance of sprinting for the win. 

Bad luck for the DSM-Firmenich duo Jastrab and Peperkamp.

SD Worx and Lidl-Trek are dominating the front as we approach the only classified climb of the day, the Côte de Durtol (1.7km at 7.2%). The climb will likely be the decisive moment of this opening stage. 

25KM TO GO

Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek) is surprisingly out the back already. Hopefully she's okay, but this is curious given how recently she showed strong form at the Baloise Ladies Tour where she took the overall, win. 

Deignan appeared to take the intermediate sprint points there. Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceunick) accelerated after the sprint point to keep the pace high. Perhaps Deignan will go for green with a lot of hilly stages on this years parcours and her ability to consistently finish in the top 10 could be perfect for that. 

There was a big ricochet effect in the peloton that caused that. Everyone is up thankfully, but lots of riders need a bike chance and with the speeds so high, it could be incredibly difficult to make it back into the peloton. 

Crash in the peloton. Lots of riders down, but most appear to be up and just trying to fix their bikes. Thankfully we were on an uphill section and no one was too badly hurt. 

Pate is getting back into the peloton now as we close in on the intermediate sprint. 1.8km until that point. 

30KM TO GO

Lach is reeled back in. 

Megan Jastrab (DSM-Firmenich) has been off the back with a mechanical issue. They'll want her to get back in as soon as possible to help Kool, or get over the climb and sprint herself if Kool is unable to stay in the peloton. 

Marlen Reusser (SD Worx) hits the front with Kopecky in her wheel. AG Insurance-Soudal QuickStep are just on their left in their train as we approach the intermediate sprint and then the final climb of the day. 

Barbieri is right towards the back for now and will want to position herself much closer to the front to avoid missing out on any splits. 

Lach's gap melted away as the peloton accelerated again. Down to 17 seconds now. 

April Tacey has also been down and was forced to check over her bike as he chain was off. Tension and nerves are building as we close in on the final phase of the stage. 

First riders to drop from the peloton are Fouquenet, Marjolein van't Geloof (Human Powered Health) and Lucie Jounier (Coop-Hitec Products). 

40KM TO GO

Lach has 51 seconds of an advantage now.

Problem at the back of the peloton for India Grangier (Coop-Hitec Products) and Amber Pate (Jayco AlUla). They got in a bit of a tangle, but thankfully didn't hit the deck. 

That was a well-timed move from the Polish rider as there is no real response from behind as of yet. We're closing in on the intermediate sprint point in Saint-Hippolyte. Lach has 16 seconds already. 

Marta Lach (Ceratizit WNT) hits the front and flies off the peloton. She grabs a bidon and continues her effort. 

50KM TO GO

Vollering was in great spirits on the start podium with Mischa Bredewold and Elena Cecchini. Could we see Vollering attack on the final climb? Or will she only be the third option after Wiebes and Kopecky for the finale?

Take a listen to SD Worx sport director and legendary ex-rider Anna van der Breggen's thoughts on the day's finale and how the Dutch team will play their cards depending on the race situation below. 

60KM TO GO

Speeds are still up at 41km/h as the riders enter the final half of the opening stage. 

Lots of riders are putting an ice pack down the back of their neck, with cooling so important on a hot day like today in central France. 

SD Worx have been making their way to the front through Christine Majerus. The Luxembourg rider will get through an awful lot of work throughout the Tour de France Femmes and is one of the finest domestiques in world cycling. 

70KM TO GO

EF Education-TIBCO-SVB are on the front with AG Insurance-Soudal QuickStep also occupying a front position. It's time to grab a bidon and musette for the majority of riders as the racing calms down for the moment. 

Anna Henderson (Jumbo-Visma) is on team duty back at the car and collecting bottles and nutrition for her team.

The peloton is about to make the catch and come all together again on this uncategorised section of climbing. Laurance is back in the bunch.

80KM TO GO

Laurance's advantage is back out to 30 seconds with teams not pushing on, but just establishing their position at the front. 

Some slightly better new on Benito who is thankfully on her way to hospital and conscious after that dangerous crash and unfortunate abandonment. 

We're approaching a change of direction and the beginning of the loop back in towards Clermont-Ferrand. We'll be going west in a few kilometres. 

Laurance's gap is down to under 20 seconds now as the peloton continues to motor on at a decent pace. 

Here's a look back at the peloton as they rolled out past the crowds in Clermont-Ferrand. 

90KM TO GO

Fouquenet still hasn't been able to bridge to Laurance and appears to be close to being reabsorbed into the peloton. Looks as though the Lifeplus Wahoo rider will be solo for even longer. 

Benito has been forced to abandon the race which is such a shame for the Spanish rider who had been strong all season and would've been a key domestique for Ashleigh Moolman Pasio. Hopefully her injuries sustained won't be long-term and she can recover quickly. 

Mireia Benito (AG Insurance-Soudal QuickStep) was the rider who unfortunately crashed. She looked quite hurt and the ambulance had the stretcher out which is not a good sign, but hopefully she won't be too badly injured.

Amandine Fouquenet (Arkéa-Samsic) is trying to bridge the gap to Laurance at the head of the race.

Crash into the ditch for AG Insurance Soudal-QuickStep. She caught the rough edge of the road and lost control off of the side of the road. 

Typhaine Laurance (Lifeplus Wahoo) is the next to try her luck off the front. The British team have been very active so far and clearly want to be part of any possible break that forms. 

100KM TO GO

Le Deunff is back in the pelotons sights. Lidl-Trek are on the front as the catch is made and we all come back together again

Tacey is caught by the accelerating peloton behind. Le Deunff still leads alone. 

Plenty of teams are now interested as we continue to head northeast in the French countryside. 

Lifeplus Wahoo counter through April Tacey in their alternate white kit. The Brit is trying to bridge the now 30 second gap. 

105KM TO GO

Solo attack from Marie-Morgane Le Deunff (Arkéa-Samsic), she's gone clear of the peloton for the French team.

Teniel Campbell has come to the front for Jayco AlUla. Make sure to read Kirsten Frattini's brilliant feature on Campbell's amazing journey to the Tour de France Femmes and her inspiring Instagram post.

From the Caribbean to Clermont-Ferrand - Teniel Campbell's long road to Paris

Here's our World and European Champions on the star line, Van Vleuten and Wiebes. 

Speeds are very high for now as everyone is trying to stay safe and towards the front. Opening stages always cause chaos and with this being one of the most important days racing of the year, everyone is on even higher alert to keep their sprinters and GC riders away from crashes. 

First attacks are beginning to fly from Cofidis. It goes nowhere for now, but we should have more breakaway hopefuls trying their luck soon. 

115KM TO GO

DSM-Firmenich and Liv Racing-TeqFind have been the most present teams at the front so far. They both have sprinters they will want to keep safe throughout the day in Charlotte Kool and Rachele Barbieri respectively.

Van Vleuten is sharing a chat with Aude Biannic (Movistar) at the back of the bunch. She'll be one of Van Vleuten's domestiques for the week and was part of both the Vuelta and Giro squads that aided the World Champion to taking the first two Grand Tours of the season. 

The pace is certainly on, but there are no attacks off the front as of yet. Nerves will be incredibly high in the peloton. 

123.8KM TO GO

Here we go, flag is waved and racing in underway! We've had a nervous approach to kilometre 0, but Marion Rousse has got us going and stage 1 of the Tour de France Femmes 2023 has officially started. 

Here's a look at today's huge favourite, Lorena Wiebes. She has showed throughout the 2023 season that she is much more than just a pure sprinter and can climb well on punchier parcours. She'll also have the best team to support her and if it comes to a sprint there are only a select few who can even come close. 

Early front wheel change for Alena Amialiusik (UAE ADQ). Best to get your bad luck out the way in the neutral zone. 

There is a long 7.7km neutral zone before the flag is dropped. Before then and while the stage is in its early stages, make sure to read Kirsten Frattini's analysis of the key GC contenders.

Tour de France Femmes 2023 – Analysing the contenders

We've waited a long time with anticipation building ever since the 2022 Tour de France Femmes finished, but it's finally here.

Stage 1 of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes is underway!

Riders are on the start line ahead of the neutralised start. National champions are leading the way.

Just under 10 minutes away now.

It's no surprise to see a huge smile on Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig's (FDJ-SUEZ) face. She was one of the five stage winners in 2022 at the TDFF and will be hoping to repeat the feat this year. 

Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) is talking on stage. It's her final season and she will be hoping to defend her Tour de France Femmes title from last year. She is in the World Champion's jersey, but will want to swap it our for the maillot jaune as quickly as possible. She has also already won the Vuelta and Giro this season, so will be hoping to add the Tour.

A very strong DSM-Firmenich team is next up. They'll have mixed ambitions with Kool for sprints being lead out by British national champion, Pfeiffer Georgi and Megan Jastrab, while Juliette Labous tries to reach the podium on GC. The Young French star was fourth overall last year. 

UAE Team ADQ are the next to be announced in their new white kit special for this race. Make sure to check out all the five teams wearing alternate jerseys at the 2023 Tour de France Femmes.

Great reception for Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) and her never-ending palmarès being announced on stage. She was fantastic in the 2022 race taking two stage wins and the green jersey.

Here's another look at today's profile which shows the flat start as the riders head northeast out of Clermont-Ferrand, but also the one categorised climb of the day that could prove to be a problem for the sprinters. Will the likes of Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx) and Charlotte Kool (DSM-Firmenich) be able to make it over that and sprint for victory? 

EF Education-TIBCO-SVB are getting the crowd going with a Mexican Wave. Alison Jackson's Canadian national champion's jersey is fantastic.

Vollering is one of the two huge favourites for the yellow jersey and just started that was the team's key ambition. Read Kirsten Frattini's great feature on the Dutch superstar below.

Demi Vollering: Tour de France Femmes is not only between me and Annemiek van Vleuten

SD Worx are on stage with their super-team. The majority of the team are in alternate jerseys as they currently have the European, Swiss, Luxembourgish, Belgian and Dutch national champions in their squad, and the Dutch jersey isn't even on show as Demi Vollering is wearing the Women's World Tour overall leader's jersey. 

The riders are completing sign-ons and the team presentation in Clermont-Ferrand before the action gets underway at 11:15 CEST.

Today's highly-anticipated opening stage is a mainly flat 123.8km test starting and finishing in Clermont-Ferrand. It could be a day for the sprinters, but it is not as simple as last year's completely flat opening stage in Paris. 

Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 1 of the Tour de France Femmes!