There is no room for national sentiment on the world's biggest bike race: just ask Cadel Evans.

On the first day in the high mountains of the 100th Tour de France, the 2011 champion virtually lost all hope of winning a second yellow jersey as Britain's Chris Froome stamped his authority on the race.

Froome, last year's runner-up to Sky teammate Bradley Wiggins, capped an audacious solo attack 5km from the summit of Ax-Trois-Domaines with a victory that gave him the race lead and a significant advantage over his rivals.