Live from Lille, it’s the latest “Great Loop.” The Tour de France, cycling’s chicest and most significant race, commences from the country’s northern tip. To paraphrase a contemporary great … we got the grip like a handle, and we’re bikin’. Wheels on the road, folks. The complete route can be found here.

Cycling fans turned out in numbers in the northern French city of Lille on Saturday (July 5) as star cyclists from around the world kicked off the Tour de France at the Grand Depart. Wimbledon Day 5: Sabalenka fights off Raducanu, Alcaraz marches on, Keys and Osaka crash out at Wimbledon

The first week takes place across the north of France and will be targeted by the sprinters, rouleurs and puncheurs, as the opening nine days feature a mix of flat and hilly stages, with an individual time trial on day five.