Chris Froome tumbles in the first lap of the Tour de France

FONTENAY-LE-COMTE, FRANCE – In a ditch, Chris Froome had to haul himself up and his Bicycle

This was a startling scene when the Team Sky rider tumbled into a grbady field during the first leg of the Tour de France on Saturday, immediately putting his quest for a fifth record title in jeopardy.

Froome, however, is accustomed to such mishaps and challenges – whether to recover from Accident or to get his doping name. 19659006] "I've seen a lot of accidents today – it's just one of those things – we've always known that the early days would be complicated and difficult. of the game, "said Froome, who lost five kilometers before the sprinters' teams made up their minds.

With grbad stains on his right shoulder and blood flowing on his right arm. Froome recovered and crossed 51 seconds behind Fernando Gaviria, the Colombian who won the first yellow jersey of the race with an impressive sprint victory.

"I'm just thankful not to be hurt and there is a lot of way to go before Paris obviously," said Froome.

When the fans on arrival were informed of the Froome accident, many applauded. Froome, who was whitened from doping in an asthma drug case on Monday, was also mocked during Thursday's team presentations.

Froome was fortunate not to do more damage by avoiding a station near 50 kph.

The Kenyan born British rider also crashed on the first day of the Giro d'Italia in May, while he was preparing for the first-time time trial. . But Froome finally climbed up the rankings to win the Giro – his third Grand Tour title in a row.

Froome now aims to join Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain as the only riders to have won the Tour five times

Richie Porte and Adam Yates, two contenders in the general clbadification, were also caught in the group Froome. In what was supposed to be a calm day for the favorites, Nairo Quintana, twice runner-up, lost 1:10 when both of his tires were broken.

Pre-race favorites who finished safe with the main pack included The 2014 champion Vincenzo Nibali, Tom Dumoulin, Geraint Thomas, Mikel Landa, Alejandro Valverde and Dan Martin.

"It's a tough end and just the typical fight between sprinters and GC.Everyone wants to be in front, especially in front of the 3K marker," said Nicolas Portal, director of sport at Sky. "It's the normal voltage that's slightly higher than other Grand Tours."

When the overall or general contenders reach the 3K mark, they can relax because from there the results are neutralized in case of accidents

Gaviria, the Quick-Step driver making his Tour debut, easily beat world champion Peter Sagan and Marcel Kittel on the line.

"The yellow jersey is the one that everyone dreams to wear. "Gaviria needed four hours and 23 minutes to complete the 201 km (125 miles) stage of the island of Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile on the Atlantic coast at Fontenay-le- Count

Gaviria, 23, won four stages at the Giro d'Italia last year and is living up to his reputation as the next big sprint star.

Bonus Accounting Froome followed Gaviria by 1:01 in 91st position

The fans came out in great numbers for the 105th edition of the biggest cycling race, skirting almost the entire road and waving the flags. red and white of the Vendée

During much of the stage, the road runs along the coast with sparkling waters, Three French riders – Kevin Ledanois (Team Fortuneo-Samsic), Jerome Cousin (Direct Energy) and Yoann Offredo (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) – attacked the starting flag and quickly established li a

Cousin and Offredo, the last vestiges of the breakaway, were overtaken by the main peloton 10 kilometers from the finish

Lawson Craddock crashed into a zone of refueling midway to the stage and the American. The Tour remains in the Vendée for stage 2 Sunday, another 182.5 kilometer stage from Mouilleron-Saint-Germain to the departmental capital of La Roche-sur-Yon

. ] The three-week tour ends July 29 in Paris