The first mountainous stage of the 2014 Tour de France             brought rain and a brutal introduction to the vicious gradients of the Vosges.

A superb solo victory for Blel Kadri (Ag2r-La Mondiale), and an extended battle between the men who would be king of this 101st Tour provided an enthralling day’s racing.

With shower, massage, and a carbohydrate-laden dinner behind them, several of the riders settled back to share their thoughts on the day via Twitter.

We’ve rounded up the best of the comments here to bring you an insight into the Tour from the men contesting it.

Discuss in the forum

So happy for my friend #BlelKadri

— Nicholas Roche (@nicholasroche) July 12, 2014

Fast day under the rain and very moved at @letour.Wordless to thanks my team for its work. @tinkoff_saxo #daybyday pic.twitter.com/R4Q7CkTVPf

— Alberto Contador (@albertocontador) July 12, 2014

I think these guys had a good day at @letour! Not sure if they know who won, but they definitely had a good day! pic.twitter.com/Zm4LgBPePp

— Bernhard Eisel (@EiselBernhard) July 12, 2014

GREEN and HAPPY ;) #letour @cannondalePro #greenmachine pic.twitter.com/huUkCTvNSv

— Peter Sagan (@petosagan) July 12, 2014

Thanks to @letour for having the promised police for the buses of the teams to get out of the finish city. #trafficjam

— Andre Greipel (@AndreGreipel) July 12, 2014

Here on @Ride_Argyle we never give up. This race is 3 weeks long, plenty of racing still to be done and plenty of time to achieve our goals.

— Andrew Talansky (@andrewtalansky) July 12, 2014

Tired after the breakaway-day.@chava_sylvain &me got the TTTmodus on at the start,but those finish hills were to much:http://t.co/c0vB1ijs5l

— Niki Terpstra (@NikiTerpstra) July 12, 2014