DIMENSION DATA

Dimension Data has been hit by illness and injury this season. Steve Cummings, a two-time stage winner, is recovering from a crash in the Tour of the Basque Country.

Mark Cavendish, who won four stages last year and closed to within four wins of Eddy Merckx’s stage record of 34, has been laid low with glandular fever. If Cav is there, it’s sprints all the way, if not the team will have to be opportunistic. Its best chance is with 29-yearold Edvald Boasson Hagen, who has won two Tour stages - although way back in 2011. As a wildcard watch out for Serge Pauwels. He’s had five stage top-10s at the Tour, including a close second on the Ventoux last year – he could be in a lot of mountain breaks, or squeeze into the top 15.

TOUR PALMARÈS

The team made a huge impression at its !irst Tour in 2015, with Steve Cummings nutmegging Pinot and Bardet at Mende and Daniel Teklehaimanot in polka dots. Signing Cavendish looked a gamble, but it paid o" with four sprint wins last year to add to another Cummings win.