Chris Froome had a dramatic start to his third Tour de France as the Brit hit the deck already in the neutral zone in today's first stage. Luckily, the big race favourite escaped the incident without any injuries and he avoided the late-race carnage to finish safely in the front group.

It was a dramatic first stage of the Tour de France but while most riders experienced the action towards the end of the stage, Chris Froome had a scare far earlier. Already in the neutral zone, the big race favourite hit the deck and was seen changing his bike before his teammates brought him back into the peloton.

Luckily, the Brit escaped the incident unscathed.

“I managed to get through the rest of the day unscathed and if that’s the only crash I have this Tour I’ll take that," he said.

Chaos ruled later in the race when a big crash brought down a number of riders, among those Froome's big rival Alberto Contador (Saxo-Tinkoff). While the Spaniard was severely delayed - losing no time due to a jury decision to neutralize all time gaps - Froome avoided the many crashes and was one of three Sky riders to finish safely in the front group, the others being sprinter Edvald Boasson Hagen and the team's second GC option Richie Porte.

However, Froome admitted that the stage had been a scary experience which had reminded him of the many different factors that goes into winning a Tour de France overall.

“I don’t think any of us expected it was going to be plain sailing today, but there were some pretty brutal crashes in the final there," he said. "Again it’s just another reminder that this Tour is about so much more than having the form and being here. It’s about staying out of trouble and looking after ourselves in the peloton at the same time. I felt like guys were crashing all around me, but I managed to pick my way through and chase to get back on just in time for the final."

His teammates were not all that lucky. Ian Stannard was involved in a crash that also took down Ryder Hesjedal while Geraint Thomas hit the deck in the mass pile-up that also brought down Contador. While the former is apparently okay, the latter will be checked up at the hospital.

“There was some uncertainty there in the final, but the main thing is that most of us have come through all right," Froome said. "G (Thomas, ed.) has gone to have some checks. He looks okay but it’s better to be on the safe side.”

The checks have later cleared Thomas to start tomorrow's stage.

Froome will now prepare himself for another nervous day in the saddle in the hilly second stage that could also allow teammate Edvald Boasson Hagen to go for the stage win.

Starting at 13.15, you can follow the entire stage on CyclingQuotes.com/live.