The 78th edition of the race began amid uncertainty in the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour season, with several events having been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Six teams withdrew from the event over coronavirus concerns, while Team Ineos pulled out also as a mark of respect to their sporting director Nicolas Portal, who died at the age of 40 on Tuesday (March 3).

Additional entries were awarded to two UCI ProTeams as a result, while the number of riders in each team was increased by organisers.

Two French hopefuls suffered a tough start to the race with Warren Barguil and Romain Bardet crashing on the 154 kilometre stage in Plaisir.

Barguil was ultimately disqualified for drafting on his way back to the peloton.

A large breakaway group of 16 riders went clear, and this was reduced further when France’s Julian Alaphilippe and Tiesj Benoot attacked in the final 30 kilometres.

The duo were caught by Schachmann and Belgium’s Dylan Teuns with just two kilometres left of racing.

A sprint finish would follow between the four riders, with Schachmann taking the opening stage victory in 3 hours, 32min and 19sec.

Teuns and Benoot completed the top three on the same time as the winner, with Alaphilippe ending three seconds off the pace.

The Netherlands’ Cess Bol led the chasing pack across the line at 15 seconds down on the stage winner.

Schachmann will take the race leader’s jersey into the second stage of the UCI World Tour race, with riders set to tackle a 166.5km route from Chevreuse to Chalette-sur-Loing tomorrow.