Here it is, the start of the Tour de France! We begin with a prologue through Luxembourg. I can't believe I'm actually here, but I need to focus on a good result.

I set off 5th on my team. My heart was beating very quickly, but it's true what they say, the worst part is the leadup.


After a couple of kilometres I got into my groove, and was relieved to find that I was in some good form.


I really wasn't happy at the time-check, in provisional 71st at 18 seconds. Still though, I had tonnes of energy left.


The final sector was more in my domain - slightly hilly. I put in a nice uphill sprint, and was hoping for the best.


I crossed the line in... 10th! Only 23 seconds back.

Rider after rider crossed the line, all falling short of my time. Robert Gesink was the only rider in the next round to beat me, and I was starting to hope for a Top 30.


Unfortunately not to be, finishing 36th at 27". Tejay van Garderen would wear the first yellow jersey.

A good day for me today, but it could've gone better. I am definitely pleased with my result.

This should be a nice stage for me. A very hilly finish means I can hope for a Top 10.

So the peloton lines up for the first road stage of Le Tour 2014. Exciting!



Surprisingly few riders want to make the first break of the Tour. After 23 kilometres we finally have 2 Frenchmen attacking - Engoulvent (COF) and Le Bon (ARG).

They were caught, but then attacked with Voigt (SPO) to make the break of the day.









Le Bon is the last to be caught, 12.5km from the line, after winning every KoM sprint and Intermediate sprint so far.



Thibaut Pinot attacks from the peloton on the summit of the last climb (a Cat 4) and forces the peloton to up their pace.



And this causes a massive split! There are only 49 riders (including Pinot) up ahead, with me the only rider from our team.



I was still at the back of the group, but I weaved my way around the riders up to the front with 5km to go. Pinot was still ahead!



He was caught under the Flamme Rouge. I started sprinting with 1.5km to go, on the uphill.



I had to come from behind, so it was Costa who took the win for Movistar, with the locals having something to celebrate in a 2nd place finish for Rolland. But, where could I finish?



3rd! I'm ecstatic! I just managed to hold off the peloton.


This picture better illustrates the sprint.

What a day! I can't believe it! I am honestly still shaking, more than 3 hours after the race. Today was absolutely awesome, and I can't wait for the rest of the Tour.

Of course my teammates were all in the bus when I arrived, but I was pleasantly surprised to be met with cheers all round. I found this all quite humbling, but it got me thinking, could we still avoid the drop. What kind of performance could save us? On the way back to the hotel, I sat next to Sean and discussed the rankings as of the end of June. In the CQ ranking, the one that matters, 18 of 19 World Tour teams make up the Top 18, while we are back in 24th, on 1217 points. AG2R have 1873, making them the 2nd worst, while to survive, we need to catch up to Lotto-Belisol, on 2297. Unfortunately we will be back in the PCT.

However, in terms of riders, I am the team's best at 32nd, on 317 points, only 3 behind Tom Veelers, and in the World Tour, I am 30th, on 107.

Also, just in case you're wondering, a Stage Win at the Tour de France is 6 points, while winning the GC is 600, so no chance really of staying up - however unsurprising.

Most likely a sprint finish, but the hills may displace a few depending on the pace.

3 riders make up today's breakaway. Flecha and Jungels are there while Engoulvent attacks again.





Engoulvent was probably still tired after yesterday, and dropped back to the peloton midway through the stage.




Jagoba didn't have the skills required to stay with the peloton in the last kilometres. We were now working for Virgilijus.


Something was clearly wrong, as Suarez and Rodriguez were dropped as well.


Our sprint wasn't good, and the stage was won by Cavendish ahead of Degenkolb and Kittel.

Uneventful day for me, but I think that the team needs a post mortem after that performance.