Cavendish finally gets his yellow jersey at Tour de France

Cavendish, 31, is third all-time on the list of Tour stage winners, and is now only one behind Bernard Hinault for second place.

Cycling fans can watch the 2016 Tour de France live online and see who can emerge on top of the second stage after Mark Cavendish’s ride to victory in the first stage at Utah Beach.

Cavendish wore the world champion’s rainbow jersey after winning the road race in 2011, the pink jersey for the Giro d’Italia leader (in 2009, 2011 and 2013) as well as the red jersey for the Vuelta leader (2010). It’s going to be a special, special day tomorrow.

Defending champion and Cavendish’s compatriot Chris Froome, the Team Sky rider who is bidding to become the first man to seal consecutive Tour de France titles in 20 years, finished in 25 position during the sprinter-friendly first stage.

Having been put in the shade by rival sprinters Marcel Kittel and Andre Greipel in recent Tours, the Manxman was considered an outsider for victory at Utah Beach.

“I really don’t know how it will be”, said Cavendish. I do this for my team, I do this for the continent of Africa, and I do it to try and get 5000 kids on bicycles (for Qhubeka).

Although Contador got up quickly and remounted his bike, he looked to have scraped his right shoulder extensively, with his jersey ripped to pieces.

“It’s not the best way to start”. But he crashed during the sprint, separated his right shoulder, and had to withdraw from the race. “I came into the corner, there was a traffic island and my front wheel hit it and then I hit the curb with my back”. “I’m bruised all down along my right side from my ankle up but at least I don’t have to go home”, Contador told reporters.

Seemingly unfazed by the company he was keeping in the final charge to the line, McLay finished in ninth spot behind stage victor Cavendish.

German Paul Voss struck out on his own ahead of the day’s two categorised climbs, cresting the summit of both alone to ensure he would finish the day wearing the polkadot king of the mountains jersey. “(Brent) Bookwalter crashed in front of him and took Alberto out.

Stage two should offer more sustained excitement than the opening encounter, with a hilly, 182km run from Saint-Lô finishing in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin on a 700m slope pitched at 5.7 per cent.