Froome crashes as Gaviria wins 1st stage of Tour de France

Fontenay-le-Comte, France: Chris Froome's bid for a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title got off to a shaky start Saturday after a dramatic crash that left him more than 40 seconds down on rivals, Fernando Gaviria claiming the yellow jersey after a bunch sprint rounded off the first stage.

With just 6km to the finish, Froome went flying over a barrier and landed on a grassy verge, emerging seemingly unhurt as the peloton sped off to a bunch sprint where Quick Step's Gaviria claimed the first yellow jersey after edging Peter Sagan and Marcel Kittel.

Colombian Nairo Quintana also lost valuable seconds after suffering a puncture close to the finish.