Thank you for joining me on this first stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2023. It’s been a pleasure to follow today’s action with you all and looking forward to more over the coming days. The stage report is coming in shortly…

Who’ll be wearing what jersey tomorrow: Kopecky is top in three classifications: the GC ranking, points and the mountains. Of course, she can only wear one jersey, so she will be in the maillot jaune, while the second placed in points and mountain categories will wear the green sprinters jersey and polka-dot jersey, respectively. Cédrine Kerbaol of Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling will be in the white jersey as top placed youth rider.

• Yellow: Lotte Kopecky (SD-Worx) 3hr 03min 59sec

• Green: Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (AG Insurance–Soudal–Quick-Step) 36pts

• Polka-dot: Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon–SRAM) 2pts

• White: Cédrine Kerbaol (Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling)

1km to go: The two chase groups have come back together. Big name sprinters, such as Wiebes and Kool are in there but Kopecky is flying.

3km to go: Kopecky’s lead has grown to around 45sec. There is a chasing group of 10 riders, including van Vleuten, Liane Lippert, Vollering, Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, Mavi Garcia and Kasia Niewiadoma. Is Kopecky heading for a win?

6km to go: Belgian rider Kopecky has taken the first QOM points of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2023. She attacked from a group of nine riders when there was about 400m to the ascent. Here are the results for the Côte de Durtol.

1. Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx), 3 pts
2. Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//Sram), 2 pts
3. Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step), 1 pt

11km to go: As they hit the climb, Marlen Reusser (SD Worx) is at the front setting the pace. Lotte Kopecky, Vollering, Wiebes, Kool and van Vleuten are all up there.

12km to go: It’s getting faster and the peloton is fragmenting. Deignan is drilling it on the front with a grimace and Longo Borghini is tucked behind her.

14km to go: The teams are winding up for the Côte de Durtol. There’s an urgency that’s going to cause some splits here. This is what the whole day has been leading towards. The climb is 1.7km and has an average gradient of 7.2%.

21km to go: That intermediate sprint has caused some damage reports Slappendel. She says a few big names, including Elisa Balsamo have been dropped from the peloton.

23km to go: It’s just about 10km to the third-cat Côte de Durtol and the peloton are increasing the pace. There’s a few riders dropping off the back, while the teams at the front will be looking to dispatch as many sprinters as they can on the uphill.

28km to go: Lach has been caught. The teams are getting into formation for the intermediate sprint. There was a small coming together between India Granger and Amber Pate earlier but they have re-joined the peloton since. In this video, it looks like maybe their handlebars got locked together.

34km to go: After that drop in pace, it’s about to increase again as the peloton approach the intermediate sprint. It’s in about 7km to the start and then uphill from there.

38km to go: Lach’s lead was growing to almost a minute but has dropped towards 20sec as she goes up a false flat. In the second hour of racing, the pace has slowed slightly, bringing the peloton’s average speed 38.6kmph. Are there some saving energy for upcoming intermediate sprint?

45km to go: Polish rider Marta Lach of Ceratizit-WNT has attacked. She has around a 20sec gap.

46km to go: There is a lot of noise around who might take the win today. Lorena Wiebes, with eight wins already in 2023, seems to be a top pick (according to TV commentary and Twitter), but her teammate Demi Vollering is also tipped for potential success (she has 13 victories this year). Outside of SD-Worx, other names being thrown around are Charlotte Kool of DSM–Firmenich and Vos. A lot though depends on whether the sprinters make it up the third category climb with just over 9km to the finish.

53km to go: There are a few small hills coming up, which might encourage a breakaway attempt but for the moment, the peloton is being pretty cagey. My soigneur has just delivered a delicious bowl of noodles and broth to my desk. I will try and juggle eating that and posting updates. Wish me luck.

62km to go: Halfway in and the bunch is tightly packed together. There have been early attacks from Life-Plus Wahoo and Arkea riders but they have all been reeled in. Lidl-Trek, Liv Racing Teqfind, EF Education – Tibco-SV, Team DSM and Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step are setting the pace.

70km to go: This tweet sums up where the peloton are now pretty well. They are heading towards Bas-et-Lazet and have been cycling through a huge forest which looks spectacular from the overhead shots.

75km to go: The peloton seem to be sticking together for the moment. There has been an update on Benito from her team: she is conscious and on her way to the hospital.

78km to go: Laurance is about to be swallowed up by the peloton after having her 30sec lead cut.

Lizzie Deignan (Lidl-Trek) spoke to Eurosport ahead of today’s stage and has shared her hope to be an “impactful” teammate for Elisa Longo Borghini. Due to being pregnant during the first edition of the Tour de France Femmes, this is Deignan’s debut. She says that although she is not physically in the “top tier”, she is mentally at an advantage. The British rider also says that she did not enjoy the recon of today’s stage and predicts a “fast and hectic” day.

88km to go: Fouquenet gave it a try but couldn’t quite get across to Laurance so is sitting up and waiting for the peloton to reach her. Out front, Laurance has a gap of 32sec.

94km to go: Amandine Fouquenet (Arkéa) is trying to join Laurance but the peloton are looming behind. There is around a 20sec gap for Laurance.

95km to go: Typhaine Laurance (Lifeplus Wahoo) attacked but her move was followed by the peloton. She tries again and has got a small gap. Behind, Mireia Benito of AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step has crashed and doesn’t look in a good way.

99km to go: With just under 110km to go, Le Deunff is reeled in and the peloton are all back together. Who is eyeing up a chance for the next attack?

100km to go: Tacey has been caught by the peloton but Le Deunff is still out there solo.

102km to go: British rider April Tacey (LifePlus Wahoo) has broken away to try and bridge over to Le Deunff. The Arkea rider has a gap of 30sec to the peloton.

104km to go: Marie Morgane Le Deunff for Arkéa Pro Cycling Team has attacked solo. There doesn’t seem to be any reaction from the peloton though. There is still a long way to go so a solo attack won’t bother them too much at the moment.

107km to go: As always, there are some beautiful looking bikes in the peloton, but Elisa Balsomo of Lidl-Trek is particularly proud of her steed. Take a look at that…

109km to go: While the start looks calm, the racing is speedier thank it looks reports Slappendel. She’s estimating around 40-50kmph and not much chatting between the riders. As the commentators on Eurosport point out, the road is not conducive to an attack yet as the peloton can see about 4km ahead.

112km to go: Just as I was about to write that the bunch are all sticking together, there was a small attack. A few riders are testing their legs at the front of the bunch. Could we see a breakaway forming?

115km to go: While we wait for some more action – and an attack – it would be nice to share that there are a few birthdays today. So far I’ve seen that Esmée Peperkamp(Team DSM) and Norwegian champion Susanne AnderseN (Uno-X) are both celebrating their birthday.

120km to go: Almost half of the peloton is made up of debutants. Of the 154 riders, 72 of them are taking part in their first Tour. Dutch riders make for the biggest contingent, with 27 riders, ahead of the French (21) and Italians (19).

Some thoughts from Iris: Former pro-rider, and absolute delight, Iris Slappendel is back on the motorbike for Eurosport and has been talking of her excitement for this year’s edition of the Tour de France Femme. She predicts that today will be a “nervous, chaotic stage with a tricky final.”