COFIDIS SOLUTIONS CRÉDITS

The French ProConti squad hasn’t won a Tour stage since 2008 - an egregious statistic given it has one of the world’s best sprinters and a top leadout train to boot. Part of the reason is that this sprinter is the charismatic and combustible Nacer Bouhanni, who has had a difficult relationship with the Tour. Two early abandons, a couple of non-starts through team politics and avoidable injuries mean we’re yet to see what the boxing-loving rider who bends sprinting rules to the limit can do at the Tour. Will this be the year Bouhanni demonstrates what he is capable of? If not, the team will struggle to shine elsewhere – with most resources directed to the sprint train, there’ll be no GC interest or mountain heroics.

TOUR PALMARÈS

In 1998, Co!idis picked up a polka dot jersey with Christophe Rinero, and the teams classi!ication. They took 10 stage wins between 1997 and 2008, including David Millar’s stage one TT win in 2000. There was also, unfortunately, a doping scandal in 2004.