Tour de France photos: Thomas’ victorious ride in images

From the grand depart on the west coast to the Alps in the East, through the Massif Central and over the rugged Pyrenees in the south, this year’s Tour de France was again a photographer’s dream.

Below is a selection of images that tell the story of Geraint Thomas’ first victory in a grand tour after three weeks and 3 351km.

Stage 1 (July 7): 201km – Noirmoutier-En-L’Ïle – Fontenay-Le-Comte
Quick-Step Floors’ Fernando Gaviria won the opening stage in Fontenay-Le-Comte and earned the first yellow jersey of this year’s Tour de France.

Stage 2 (July 8): 182.5km – Mouilleron-Saint Germain – La Roche-Sur-Yon
Bora-Hansgrohe’s Peter Sagan won in a sprint finish to claim victory on stage two of the Tour de France in La Roche-Sur-Yon.

Stage 3 (July 9): 35.5km – Cholet (TTT)
BMC won the team time-trial on stage three of the Tour de France, which resulted in Greg van Avermaet taking over the yellow jersey.

Stage 4 (July 10): 195km – La Baule – Sarzeau
Quick-Step’s Fernando took the win on stage four of the Tour de France in Sarzeau.

Stage 5 (July 11): 204.5km – Lorient – Quimper
Bora-Hansgrohe’s Peter Sagan claimed his second stage win of this year’s Tour de France after day five in Quimper.

Stage 6 (July 12): 181km – Brest – Mûr de Bretagne Guerlédan
UAE Team Emirates’ Dan Martin won stage six of the Tour de France atop the Mur-de-Bretagne.

Stage 7 (July 13): 231km – Fougères – Chartres
LottoNL-Jumbo’s Dylan Groenewegen retained his overall lead after winning the seventh stage of the Tour de France in Chartres today.

Stage 8 (July 14): 181km – Dreux – Amiens Métropole
Dylan Groenewegen claimed victory in a fast 181km stage on day eight of the Tour de France in Amiens Métropole.

Stage 9 (July 15): 156.5km – Arras Citadelle – Roubaix
Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo)’s John Degenkolb won stage nine of the Tour de France in Roubaix.

Stage 10 (July 17): 158.5km – Annecy – Le Grand-Bornand
Quick-Step Floors’ Julian Alaphilippe took his first Tour de France stage win after stage 10 in Le Grand-Bornand.

Stage 11 (July 18): 108.5km – Albertville – La Rosière
Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas claimed victory on stage 11 of the Tour de France at La Rosière and took the overall lead.

Stage 12 (July 19): 175.5km – Bourg-Saint-Maurice Les Arc – Alpe d’Huez
Geraint Thomas won his second stage in a row after stage 12 of the Tour de France at Alpe d’Huez.

Stage 13 (July 20): 169.5km – Bourg d’Oisans – Valence
Bora-Hansgrohe’s Peter Sagan crossed the line first on stage 13 of the Tour de France in Valence.

Stage 14 (July 21) 188km – Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux – Mende
Astana’s Oscar Fraile claimed victory on stage 14 of the Tour de France at the airstrip above Mende in the Massif Central.

Stage 15 (July 22): 181.5km – Millau – Carcassonne
Astana Pro’s Magnus Cort Nielsen was victorius on stage 15 of the Tour de France in Carcassonne.

Stage 16 (July 24): 218km – Carcassonne – Bagnères-de-Luchon
Julian Alaphilippe won stage 16 of the Tour de France in Bagnères-de-Luchon.

Stage 17 (July 25): 65km – Bagnères-de-Luchon – Saint-Lary-Soulan (Col de Portet)
Movistar’s Nairo Quintana claimed victory atop the Col de Portet in stage 17 of the Tour de France.

Stage 18 (July 26): 171km – Trie-sur-Baïse – Pau
Groupama FDJ’s Arnaud Démare performed a winning sprint in stage 18 of the Tour de France in Pau.

Stage 19 (July 27): 200.5km – Lourdes – Laruns
LottoNL-Jumbo’s Primož Roglič rode to victory in stage 19 of the Tour de France in Laruns.

Stage 20 (July 28): 31km – Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle – Espelette (ITT)
Team Sunweb’s Tom Dumoulin won the individual time-trial on the penultimate Tour de France stage in Espelette.

Stage 21 (July 29): 116km – Houilles – Paris

On the final Tour de France stage, Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas became the first Welsh male to win when the 21-stage event concluded in Paris at the Champs-Élysées.