LOTTO SOUDAL

The Belgian squad bagged two of the most prestigious stages last July, as Thomas De Gendt’s victory on the chaotic Ventoux stage was followed by André

Greipel’s on the ChampsÉlysées. A stage win for the German will be the minimum expected return this July - he was frequently frustrated at the Giro but continued his streak of winning a stage at every Grand Tour he’s entered since 2008. If he extends his run of six consecutive years of stage wins at the Tour, he’ll be joint second in the all-time list with Miguel Indurain and André Leducq, with André Darrigade’s 10 looking invincible. Meanwhile with De Gendt, Tim Wellens and former stage winner (and yellow jersey wearer) Tony Gallopin, the team boasts an aggressive trio of stage hunters.

TOUR PALMARÈS

Lotto has a venerable Tour history – 2016 was its 30th so it’s surprising it’s only won three classi ications: Robbie McEwen’s three green jerseys in the 2000s. Generally it’s avoided the overall, but Cadel Evans came within 23 seconds of the yellow jersey in 2007.