There were mixed fortunes for the thousands of Belgian fans who poured over the border for the opening stage of the Tour de France 2025 on Saturday, as Jasper Philipsen won, but star rider Remco Evenepoel lost valuable time.

Philipsen took the yellow jersey in a frantic sprint finish at the northern city of Lille, while double Olympic champion Evenepoel was trapped in a second group and lost 39 seconds.

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Race favorites Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard both finished safely in the lead pack on a day marred by a series of falls.

Even defending champion Pogacar appeared flustered at the finish line.

"It was as frantic as we had expected, but when the split came, fortunately I was near the front," said the 26-year-old Slovenian. "I'm just happy Day 1 is done. Nine days to go before the first rest day."

Africa's sole rider Biniam Girmay, winner of three stages in 2024, was second on the day, as Philipsen got ahead of him with 100 meters to go.

"It's a day I will never forget," said Philipsen after notching up a 10th career stage win on the Tour. "This is why I have been getting up early and training hard each day."

Teamwork Makes The Dream Work At TDF 2025

Philipsen's Alpecin team, marshalled by Mathieu van der Poel, formed an old-school sprint train that the winner hailed.

"What an experience!" beamed Philipsen. "Those final kilometers, to be part of that." 

Around 40 riders in the first group contested the sprint, where one of the day's many falls happened.

Primoz Roglic of Red Bull and Team UAE's Joao Almeida also were caught in the surprise split in blustery winds.

Fans packed the route in one of France's more modest regions passing First World War memorials, red-brick houses and slagheaps from long-closed coal mines along the Belgian border.

Under overcast skies with the temperature a manageable 22C, the peloton cut a fast pace despite the windy conditions, but no rain fell until the riders had passed the finish line.

Racing toward an intermediate sprint over cobbles, escapee Benjamin Thomas slid sideways and took out his sole rival Matteo Vercher in one spectacular fall, and the pair were still bickering when the peloton shot past them.

Former time trial world champion Filippo Ganna was one rider who will take no further part after a clumsy fall on a corner.

The Italian would have been a contender on the lengthy Stage 5 individual time trial, as well as key in the Ineos team's campaign to get veteran Geraint Thomas into the top 10 on his 14th and final Tour de France.

Philipsen, in yellow, will lead the peloton out for Sunday's second stage, a hilly 209-kilometer route to the beaches of Boulogne-sur-mer.

Tour de France 2025 Stage 1 Results – Top 25

1. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – 3:53:11 (B10)
2. Biniam Girmay (Intermarché - Wanty) – 3:53:11 (B6)
3. Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) – 3:53:11 (B4)
4. Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) – 3:53:11
5. Matteo Trentin (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) – 3:53:11
6. Clément Russo (Groupama-FDJ) – 3:53:11
7. Paul Penhoet (Groupama-FDJ) – 3:53:11
8. Matteo Jorgenson (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – 3:53:11
9. Marius Mayrhofer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) – 3:53:11
10. Samuel Watson (INEOS Grenadiers) – 3:53:11
11. Mike Teunissen (XDS Astana Team) – 3:53:11
12. Iván García Cortina (Movistar Team) – 3:53:11
13. Niklas Märkl (Team Picnic PostNL) – 3:53:11
14. Harry Sweeny (EF Education - EasyPost) – 3:53:11
15. Krists Neilands (Israel - Premier Tech) – 3:53:11
16. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkea-B&B Hotels) – 3:53:11
17. Damien Touzé (Cofidis) – 3:53:11
18. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) – 3:53:11
19. Pascal Ackermann (Israel - Premier Tech) – 3:53:11
20. Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – 3:53:11
21. Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek) – 3:53:11
22. Marco Haller (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) – 3:53:11
23. Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – 3:53:11
24. Kasper Asgreen (EF Education - EasyPost) – 3:53:11
25. James Blackmore (Israel - Premier Tech) – 3:53:11

Tour de France 2025 Overall Standings – Top 25 After Stage 1

1. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – 3:53:01
2. Biniam Girmay (Intermarché - Wanty) – 3:53:05
3. Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) – 3:53:07
4. Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) – 3:53:11
5. Matteo Trentin (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) – 3:53:11
6. Clément Russo (Groupama-FDJ) – 3:53:11
7. Paul Penhoet (Groupama-FDJ) – 3:53:11
8. Matteo Jorgenson (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – 3:53:11
9. Marius Mayrhofer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) – 3:53:11
10. Samuel Watson (INEOS Grenadiers) – 3:53:11
11. Mike Teunissen (XDS Astana Team) – 3:53:11
12. Iván García Cortina (Movistar Team) – 3:53:11
13. Niklas Märkl (Team Picnic PostNL) – 3:53:11
14. Harry Sweeny (EF Education - EasyPost) – 3:53:11
15. Krists Neilands (Israel - Premier Tech) – 3:53:11
16. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkea-B&B Hotels) – 3:53:11
17. Damien Touzé (Cofidis) – 3:53:11
18. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) – 3:53:11
19. Pascal Ackermann (Israel - Premier Tech) – 3:53:11
20. Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – 3:53:11
21. Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek) – 3:53:11
22. Marco Haller (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) – 3:53:11
23. Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – 3:53:11
24. Kasper Asgreen (EF Education - EasyPost) – 3:53:11
25. James Blackmore (Israel - Premier Tech) – 3:53:11

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