The 107th edition of the Tour de France kicked off in Nice over the weekend, with a dream start for UAE Team Emirates and veteran Norwegian sprinter Alexander Kristoff. 

Given the current global circumstances, the vibe at the race is a little different this year, but the peloton was nonetheless eager to kick off proceedings at the biggest race in world cycling -- even if it’s a couple of months later in the year than usual. 

Storm clouds were gathering on the horizon as the race’s 176 riders took to the startline, foretelling what would be an extremely wet and slippery day out on the bike for the peloton.

Following numerous crashes and a rider-led neutralisation of the stage’s final descent, it was UAE Team Emirates’s Alexander Kristoff who would eventually catapult himself from the surging pack and roll across the finish line in Nice in first place, the 33-year-old’s first win at the Tour since 2018.

Riding the top-of-the-line Colnago V3RS, complete with Campaganolo’s flagship Super Record groupset and Bora WTO carbon wheels, Kristoff would end the day with his and Team UAE Emirates’s very first yellow jersey. 

Kristoff would take to the startline of Stage Two -- rolling out from Nice for the second day in a row -- resplendent in the maillot jaune and a new yellow-highlighted Colnago.

Thanks to the dry conditions, the riders were grateful for a slightly less frantic day out on the bike, but given the mountainous parcours, the day was not without its fair share of challenges.

French phenomenon Julian Alaphilippe would go on to break away with two other riders late in the stage and take the win for his team Deceuninck–Quick-Step, while young Tadej Pogacar was UAE Team Emirates’s highest place finisher, rolling across the line in a very respectable eighth place.

While Alaphilippe would take yellow from Kristoff, the Norwegian was nonetheless delighted to swap it for the green jersey for sprinters, and will start stage three in the maillot vert. 

After a dream start, let’s see what the rest of the Tour brings for UAE Team Emirates -- here at Bikebug we’ll be cheering for you!