The Tour de France gets under way in Brest with Mark Cavendish and David Millar carrying British hopes

German Erik Zabel is one of the high-profile riders hoping to make an impact on the Tour this year

As always, thousands of people gather to catch a glimpse of the riders and cheer them on

Frenchman Remy Di Gregorio is guaranteed to get the support of the spectators as he competes on home soil

The 197.5km stage begins and Thomas Voeckler (right) and Spanish duo Ruben Perez and David de la Fuente form an early breakaway

The peloton is happy to allow the leaders to open up an eight-minute lead as they wind their way through numerous villages

Many of the locals fly the flag of Brittany while cheering the riders as they make the long journey to Plumelec

Slowly the peloton begins to reel in the breakaway, but Breton favourite Lilian Jegou and David De La Fuente make a strike for home

The leaders are caught with seven kilometres remaining setting up a huge sprint finish up the C�te de Cadoual - locally known as the Breton Alpe d'Huez

And Spanish champion Alejandro Valverde proves the strongest up the climb to take his second career Tour stage win

Voeckler is rewarded for his exertions in the eight-man breakaway with the King of the Mountains jersey

But it is Valverde who will wear the coveted yellow jersey on the second stage which sees the riders race from Auray to Saint-Brieuc