Le Tour rolled out of opening host city Rotterdam at 11.49am this morning local time, after an opening ceremony which included the Dutch and French national anthems and had rumours that U2's lead singer Bono was in attendance.
A Dutchman in Lars Boom, a Belgian in Maarten Wynants and the Basque Alain Perez broke as soon as the race was official and built up a lead of over seven minutes.
The Green Jersey wearer David Millar was one of the early riders to crash when the popular Scot and Ivan Basso were brought down by a dog.
Both got back in the race as did another faller Adam Hensen who suffered two broken bones but rode on to the finish. Unfortunately, for the Australian, the stage will be his last as he has been foreced to retire after visiting the hospital. Speaking to his team's press office, Hansen said: "I'm extremely disappointed. "I was really looking forward to this tour and I'm upset now that they have to continue with only eight riders.
Adam Hensen
"It was one of those freak crashes. I briefly saw something on the road before I hit it and my bike skid across the field. Most riders managed to avoid me but at the last second I hit the back wheel of another rider and went down."
His HTC Colombia team along with Millar's Garmin team, Lampre and the Carvelo Test Team which contains Jeremy 'Jezza' Hunt and Daniel Lloyd, all worked hard to get their men in position.
Jeremy Hunt
In the last 3,000m, there were three major crashes. The first saw Mark Cavendish go down in a crash that took out Hunt and Oscar Friere.
Those unaffected by this crash soon were as more fallers virtually blocked the road.
A group which contained Tyler Farrar pressed on but the American made contact with Lloyd Mondory and the pair went down.
Tyler Farrer
Italian Allesandro Petacchi kept out of trouble and the Lampre rider was first over the line followed by Mark Renshaw and Thor Hushovd.
Thor Hushovd
Everyone who crashed within in the last 3,000m was given the same time and it is Fabian Cancellera who continues in yellow with David Millar, who lost his green jersey to Petacchi in third.
Monday's stage is a 201km ride from Bruxelles to Spa and our friends at ITV4 and British Eurosport are showing the stage live.
Pictures copyright of Covsupport News Service.