The 103rd Tour de France started on Saturday 2 July at Mont-Saint-Michel, a World Heritage Benedictine abbey perched on a rock off the Normandy coast. The 3,519-kilometre (2,186-mile), three-week race scales the Pyrenees before the Alps, taking an anti-clockwise route around France and passing through three neighbouring countries — Spain, Andorra and Switzerland – before ending on 24 July on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
As the world's most famous cycling race passes the halfway point, IBTimes UK looks at some of the best pictures from this year's Tour de France.
2 July 2016: Riders look on as jets fly over Le Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy prior to the Grand Depart, kicking off the 2016 Tour de FranceBryn Lennon/Getty Images2 July 2016: The pack sets off from Le Mont Saint-Michel at the start of the 2016 Tour de FranceJuan Medina/Reuters2 July 2016: Spain's Alberto Contador, injured after a crash, rides during the 188km first stageKenzo Tribouillard/AFP2 July 2016: Fans standing on a digger hold a French flag during the first stageJuan Medina/Reuters2 July 2016: The pack rides during the 188km first stage between Mont-Saint-Michel and Utah Beach Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, NormandyKenzo Tribouillard/AFP3 July 2016: Mark Cavendish of Britain poses with can can performers at the start of the second stageJuan Medina/Reuters3 July 2016: A helicopter flies above the pack riding during the 183km second stage between Saint-Lo and Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, NormandyJeff Pachoud/AFP3 July 2016: Fans dressed as pigs cheer from the roadside during during the second stage, from Saint-Lo to Cherbourg-En-CotentinJuan Medina/Reuters4 July 2016: A spectator lies in a hamock suspended from a tractor as he waits for the pack during the 223.5km third stage between Granville and AngersKenzo Tribouillard/AFP5 July 2016: The pack cycles past a wheat field between Saumur and Limoges during the 237.5km fourth stageJuan Medina/Reuters6 July 2016: Tom Jelte Slagter of Netherlands prepares to set off on stage fiveChris Graythen/Getty Images6 July 2016: The peloton prepare to head out at the start of the 216km stage five from Limoges to Le LioranMichael Steele/Getty Images6 July 2016: Cyclists' shadows are cast on the road during the fifth stageKenzo Tribouillard/AFP6 July 2016: Tour de France superfan Didi 'Diablo' Senft cheers as Belgium's Greg Van Avermaet heads past on his way to victory in the 216km stage fiveMichael Steele/Getty Images6 July 2016: The pack rides across a bridge during the 216km fifth stage between Limoges and Le LioranKenzo Tribouillard/AFP6 July 2016: The pack rides across a bridge between Limoges and Le Lioran during the 216km fifth stageJean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters7 July 2016: Belgium's Thomas De Gendt adjusts his helmet prior to the start of the 190.5 km sixth stage between Arpajon-sur-Cere and MontaubanLionel Bonaventure/AFP7 July 2016: Thomas De Gendt's bike is seen in Arpajon-Sur-Cere prior to stage sixChris Graythen/Getty Images7 July 2016: Bikes are seen suspended from a crane during the sixth stageLionel Bonaventure/AFP7 July 2016: The pack is pictured on the road between Arpajon-sur-Cere and Montauban during the sixth stageLionel Bonaventure/AFP7 July 2016: The peloton crosses a bridge during stage sixBryn Lennon/Getty Images7 July 2016: A supporter holding a placard referring to Great Britain's Mark Cavendish waits for riders along the road during the 190.5km sixth stage between Arpajon-sur-Cere and MontaubanLionel Bonaventure/AFP8 July 2016: Cyclists are pictured on the road during the 162.5km seventh stageKenzo Tribouillard/AFP8 July 2016: A member of Russia's Tinkoff team carries bottles for his teammates during the seventh stageKenzo Tribouillard/AFP8 July 2016: The pack rides through fields of sunflowers between L'Isle-Jourdain and Lac de Payolle during the 162.5km seventh stageJean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters8 July 2016: The pack rides during the seventh stage between L'Isle-Jourdain and Lac de PayolleKenzo Tribouillard/AFP9 July 2016: The pack rides between Pau and Bagneres-de-Luchon during the eighth stageJeff Pachoud/AFP9 July 2016: The pack rides through beautiful scenery during the 184km eighth stage from Pau to Bagneres-de-LuchonJuan Medina/Reuters9 July 2016: The peloton rides up the Col du Tourmalet during the 184km mountainous stage eight from Pau to Bagneres-de-LuchonChris Graythen/Getty Images9 July 2016: France's Thibaut Pinot breaks away during the 184km eighth stage between Pau and Bagneres-de-LuchonJeff Pachoud/AFP9 July 2016: Sam Bennett of Ireland rides on one wheel up the Col du Tourmalet during stage eightChris Graythen/Getty Images9 July 2016: Fans wait at the top of the Col du Tourmalet in Bagneres-de-Luchon during stage eightChris Graythen/Getty Images9 July 2016: Team Sky rider Chris Froome, wearing the yellow jersey, reacts on the podium after winning stage eightJuan Medina/Reuters10 July 2016: Spain's Alberto Contador is pictured inside his team car after he dropped out of the 2016 Tour de FranceKenzo Tribouillard/AFP10 July 2016: The peloton winds through Vielha Val d'Aran during stage nine of the 2016 Le Tour de FranceChris Graythen/Getty Images10 July 2016: The pack rides between Vielha Val d'Aran in Spain and Andorre Arcalis in Andorra during stage nineJean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters10 July 2016: Team Sky riders emerge from a tunnel during stage nineJean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters10 July 2016: Netherlands' Tom Dumoulin reacts as a man disturbs him during the very wet 184.5 km ninth stage between Vielha Val d'Aran and Andorre ArcalisJeff Pachoud/AFP10 July 2016: Chris Froome in the yellow leader's jersey rides in the pouring rain up the Andorra Arcalis during stage nine, from Vielha Val d'Aran to Andorre ArcalisChris Graythen/Getty Images12 July 2016: The peloton descends during the 197km tenth stage between Escaldes-Engordany and RevelMichael Steele/Getty Images12 July 2016: The pack rides between Escaldes-Engordany and Revel during the tenth stageJeff Pachoud/AFP12 July 2016: Great Britain's Christopher Froome, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, rides in the fog during the 197km tenth stageJeff Pachoud/AFP
