Gallery: Dutch city goes crazy for Saturday's Grand Départ
Image 1 of 41
Large crowds cheer Fabian Cancellara Saturday in Utrecht.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Luke Rowe competes in Utrecht.
Chris Froome had a booster club along the route.
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands (L) waves on the podium at the end of a 13.8 km individual time-trial, the first stage of the 102nd edition of the Tour de France
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands (L) and Utrecht's mayor Jan van Zanen (2ndR) pose on the podium at the end of a 13.8 km individual time-trial, the first stage of the 102nd edition of the Tour de France.
Chris Froome digs deep on the fan-lined finishing straight.
Spectators watch the action from a boat.
Spectators used multiple modes of transportation to get to Saturday's stage.
Tony Martin passes screaming spectators.
Dutch favourite Tom Dumoulin finished fourth.
Steven Kruijswijk of Netherlands and Team LottoNL-Jumbo is cheered on by the fans during stage one of the 2015 Tour de France.
A Tinkoff riders passes the crowd.
Dutch fans cheer Wilco Kelderman as he competes in the stage 1 time trial.
former cyclist Joop Zoetemelk receives a trophy on the podium at the end of the 13.8 km individual time-trial, the first stage of the 102nd edition of the Tour de France.
Supporters wearing giant glasses wait along the road during the 13.8 km individual time-trial, the first stage of the 102nd edition of the Tour de France
People walk over a giant mural for the race.
fans line the course in Utrecht.
Dutch spectators got a close-up view of the action.
A Cannondale-Garmin rider receives support from spectators along the route.
There was no shortage of rambunctious fans on Saturday.
Spectators take a drink in the Utrecht heat.
Wouter Poels shows the effort of the 13.5km stage.
A spectators dressed in yellow for the occasion.
Tony Gallopin leaves the start house in Utrecht.(Image credit: Sirotti)
Orica GreenEdge staff chat before the stage.(Image credit: Sirotti)
The Team Katusha bus is sst up before the riders arrive.(Image credit: Sirotti)
The Team Sky entourage readies for the stage.(Image credit: Sirotti)
The start house in Utrecht.(Image credit: Sirotti)
The TV moto captures Fabian Cancellara's trip through Utrecht.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Fabian Cancellara rides through the crowds in Utrecht.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) gets ready to leave the start house.(Image credit: Sirotti)
LottoNL-Jumbo fans were everywhere in Utrecht.
A LottoNL-Jumbo rider in action among the fan-lined course.
Standing room only near the barriers.
Standing room only near the barriers.
Dutchman Laurens ten Dam finishes.
Nairo Quintana rides past a Colombian flag.
Richie Porte rides past fans who are using umbrellas to shade themselves from the heat.
Crowds near the start house are reflected in Ian Stannard's visor.
Eritrea's Daniel Teklehaimanot (MTN-Qhubeka) rides along a line of fans seated for the stage.
Large crowds cheer Fabian Cancellara Saturday in Utrecht.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The Grand Départ in Utrecht did not disappoint, as BMC Racing's Rohan Dennis rode into the first yellow jersey of the 2015 Tour de France with a winning ride in the 13.8km opening time trial. It's safe to say Dennis enjoyed the day, as did the multitude of fans and spectators who lined the course and filled the public squares around the event. They came on foot, bikes, cars, boats and even paddle boards to witness the beginning of cycling's grandest of the national tours.
This is the sixth time the Tour has started in the Netherlands. The first-ever foreign Grand Départ was in Amsterdam in 1954, and the most recent visit the race made was to Rotterdam in 2010. Utrecht and its citizens seemed determined to make the most of their turn in the Tour spotlight.
Click through the photo gallery above to get a glimpse of Saturday's scene at the stage 1 start in Utrecht.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
