Tour de France: Alejandro Valverde has won the opening stage of the 95th Tour de France after a storming finish in the final kilometre sprint.
The Caisse d'Epargne rider - among the favourites to win this year's Tour - burst forward in the final 200 metres after it looked like Kim Kirchen had the win all wrapped up.
The Columbia rider was well ahead of the Spaniard after the final bend, but he could not continue his momentum and began to flag as he was caught easily by Valverde.
Belgian rider Philippe Gilbert of Francaise des Jeux and Frenchman Jerome Pineau of Bouygues Telecom also passed the Luxembourg rider before the line to complete the top three.
Saunier Duval-Scott's Riccardo Ricco, runner-up at this year's Giro d'Italia, finished behind Kirchen in fifth, ahead of Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto), Frank Schleck (CSC-Saxo Bank) and Filippo Pozzato of Liquigas.
However, Spain dominated the top ten as Oscar Freire (Rabobank) and Valverde's Caisse d'Epargne team-mate Oscar Pereiro completed the front runners.
Afterwards, Valverde dedicated the win to his family, friends and team-mates, before warning his rivals he has his eyes set on more glory before the event reaches Paris.
"It's an important victory for me today. I'm very proud," he said. "Of course I have my eyes on the podium in Paris, but it's important to win a stage and have the yellow jersey."
With a group of eight riders pulling away to an early lead, Valverde's Caisse d'Epargne team pushed to the head of the peloton to up the tempo.
Their attempts to gain ground on the leaders worked, with the group's lead reduced from 8mins 15secs at the top of the first summit to only four minutes by the time the peloton reached the mid-way feed zone.
It was also around this time that the first and possibly most damaging of the day's crashes took place.
Cofidis rider Herve Duclos-Lassalle, racing in the Tour for the first time, fell after getting another rider's feed bag caught in his spokes.
The Frenchman suffered a broken wrist in the fall and was unable to continue.
Cofidis sporting director Francis Van Londersele said: "It's a silly accident. Another cyclist put his bag in front of him.
"It's really tough for him. All the hopes are gone."
Tomorrow, the Tour's second stage moves on to a flatter 164.5 km route from Auray to St. Brieuc in Brittany.
Stage One Result:
1. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Caisse d'Epargne) 4:36:00
2. Philippe Gilbert (Bel/Francaise des Jeux) + 0.01
3. Jerome Pineau (Fra/Bouygues Telecom) same time.
4. Kim Kirchen (Lux/Team Columbia) same time.
5. Riccardo Ricco (Ita/Saunier Duval-Scott) same time.
6. Cadel Evans (Aus/Silence-Lotto) same time.
7. Frank Schleck (Lux/Team CSC Saxo Bank) same time.
8. Filippo Pozzato (Ita/Liquigas) same time.
9. Oscar Freiere (Spa/Rabobank) same time.
10. Oscar Pereiro (Spa/Caisse d'Epargne) same time.