Best of the Tour de France 2014 – in pictures

The riders in a climb during the 1st Stage between Leeds and Harrogate. Photograph: Kim Ludbrook/EPA

Christopher Froome receives a new bike after a crash, injured his wrist and thigh on Stage 4.
Photograph: Tim de Waele/John Pierce Pho/REX

Christopher Froome gets into his team car as he abandons the race following a third consecutive crash in two days during the 5th Stage between Ypres, Belgium, and the finish in Arenberg, France. Photograph: Laurent Cipriani/AP

The peloton of riders start 5th Stage in Ypres. Photograph: Kim Ludbrook/EPA

Belkin Procycling team rider Lars Boom of Netherlands leads the break-away group over the infamous cobbles during the 5th Stage. He went on to win in Arenberg Porte du Hainaut. Photograph: Bernard Papon/EPA

An elderly woman cheers as the pack of riders cycles on its way during the 194km 6th Stage of the Tour de France, starting from Arras, finishing in Reims. Photograph: Christian Hartmann/Reuters

François Hollande, President of France, visiting Stage 6 which started in Arras. Photograph: REX//Photosport International/REX

Andrew Talansky of the United States and Garmin-Sharp crashes in the sprint to the finish line in Stage 7, starting from Épernay, finishing in Nancy. Photograph: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Photo finish reveals Italy's Matteo Trentin, front, crosses the finish line ahead of second place Peter Sagan of Slovakia, rear, to win the 7th Stage. Photograph: ASO/AP

Gifts and goodies are thrown to spectators from the publicity caravan which travels just ahead of the teams and riders in the race. This picture shows the "Caravan Publicitaire" during Stage 8 arriving at Gerardmer La Mauselaine in the Vosges mountains, France. Photograph: Miroslav Dakov/Demotix/Corbis

A breakaway group of riders including AG2R-La Mondiale team rider Blel Kadri, left, of France and IAM Cycling team rider Sylvain Chavanel, front, of France cycle in very heavy rain during the 8th Stage between Tomblaine and Gérardmer La Mauselaine. Photograph: Christian Hartmann/Reuters

At the finish in Mulhouse, France's Tony Gallopin celebrates his yellow jersey on the podium at the end of the 170 km 9th Stage. Photograph: Jeff Pachoud/AFP/Getty Images

Portugal's Tiago Machado stands by the road after a fall during the 161.50 km 10th Stage between Mulhouse and La Planche des Belles Filles ski resort. Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

The yellow jersey, Tony Gallopin, enjoys a selfie moment at the start of Stage 10 in Mulhouse. Photograph: Tim de Waele/Corbis

Italy's Vincenzo Nibali, the overall leader, reads the headlines of his previous day's win at his hotel during a rest day on July 15, 2014 in Besançon, eastern France. Photograph: Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images

Team Katusha's Alexander Kristoff from Norway recovers after winning the 12th Stage in Saint-Étienne. Photograph: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Netapp Endura Procycling's David de la Cruz of Spain gets assistance after falling badly in the breakaway group during the 12th stage over 185.5km from Bourg-en-Bresse to Saint-Étienne. He had to abandon the race after the crash. Photograph: Yoan Valat/EPA

At the start of the 13th Stage in Saint-Étienne, the Dutch riders of the Belkin team wear black armbands to observe a minute's siilence for the victims of the Malaysia Airlines MH17 flight that crashed in the Ukraine. Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

Pierre Rolland cools down in the heat with a splash of water on Stage 13 between Saint-Étienne and Chamrousse. Photograph: Tim de Waele/Corbis

Italy's yellow jersey wearer Vincenzo Nibali saviours his moment after winning Stage 13 in Chamrousse after a gruelling 200km ride. Photograph: Tim de Waele/Corbis

Dutch rider Ten Dam Laurens is glad to see the Stage 13 finish at an height of 1730m above sea level. Photograph: Tim de Waele/Corbis

It's not all serious on Le Tour as Movistar procycling team rider Alejandro Valverde of Spain proves by sharing a joke at the start of Stage 14 in Grenoble. Photograph: Nicolas Bouvy/EPA

Yellow jersey leader Vincenzo Nibali is cheered by fans as he climbs to the 1,855 metre high finish of the 14th Stage in Risoul. Photograph: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Poland's Rafal Majka displays willpower over pain and exhaustion on his way to win the 14th Stage at Risoul. Photograph: Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images

It's a rest day and Bernhard Eisel of Austria takes a photo of the new Jaguar F-Type team Sky built, whilst on a training ride. Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

New Zealand's Jack Bauer from the Garmin-Sharp team in tears after the finish. He was the last rider of the breakaway caught by the field sprint in the final meters of the 15th Stage. Photograph: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

A child draws the peleton with yellow jersey Italy's Vincenzo Nibali at the front, as it passes during the 16th Stage between Carcassonne and Bagnères-de-Luchon. Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

The race passes through a spectacular tunnel during Stage 16. Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

Australia's Michael Rogers fights his way through the mountain crowds to win Stage 16 in Bagnères-de-Luchon. Photograph: Laurent Cipriani/AP

Supporters cheer from on high above a banner reading "Pinot [France's FDJ rider Thibaut Pinot], the Ariège department is with you", along the road during the 237.5km 16th stage. Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

Polka dot mountain specialist Poland's Rafal Majka rides in a breakaway high above a valley between Saint-Gaudens and Saint-Lary Pla d'Adet on the 17th Stage. Photograph: Jeff Pachoud/AFP/Getty Images

When you reach the top the only way is down: USA's Peter Stetina rides past the word GO on the road on the 17th Stage. Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

No Tour De France is complete without riding through the sunflowers, here near Belmont during the 19th stage. Photograph: Bas Czerwinski/EPA

A determined Jean-Christophe Péraud, centre, surrounded by his France's AG2R La Mondiale teammates in more heavy rain on Stage 19. Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

Third placed overall Thibaut Pinot of France concentrates prior to the start of the 20th Stage individual time-trial over 54km. Photograph: Laurent Cipriani/AP

The yellow jersey wearer Vincenzo Nibali of the Astana Pro Team races to fourth place in the individual time trial and defends his overall race lead on Stage 20. Photograph: Tim de Waele/Corbis

The overall leader Astana Procycling team rider Vincenzo Nibali in the yellow jersey during the 21st and final stage from Evry to Paris, by the Champs-Elysees. Photograph: Nicolas Bouvy/EPA

Race leader Astana team rider Vincenzo Nibali of Italy rides near the Arc de Triomphe at the end of the final 21st stage of the Tour de France. Photograph: Jean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters

The 2014 overall winner Italy's Vincenzo Nibali is congratulated by his Astana's teammates as he crosses the finish line on the Champs-Elysees at the end of the 137.5 km 21st and last stage of the 101st Tour de France. Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

Italy's Vincenzo Nibali, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, celebrates his 2014 triumph with a well earned glass of champagne. Photograph: Jean-Paul Pelissier/AP

Race winner Vincenzo Nibali of Italy, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, gestures as he celebrates on the podium in front of L'Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Photograph: Jerome Prevost/AP