DANIEL FR IE BE

ITV cycl ing presenter

Who will win the yellow jersey and who is going to be second and third?

Froome’s pre-June build-up was unimpressive but the lack of competition makes me think he can win, and the next-strongest rider may turn out to be his team-mate, Landa. Quintana may not always excel but he rarely !lops, so I’d take him as a safe bet for second. Porte and Bardet look the most likely candidates for third.

Who else will be in the top 10?

A lot of the same names as in 2016, given that the route is similarly heavy on climbing and even skinnier on TTs: Meintjes, Valverde, Martin and Simon Yates. Landa and Aru will want to make amends for their Giro setbacks.

Which sprinter will dominate?

At the time of writing Cavendish was unsure to take part. This should leave Kittel with a clear route to three or four wins, though you write o!f Greipel at your peril. There’s always the chance that Sagan sna!!les a win or three.

Who’s going to win the other jerseys?

All that can stop Sagan in the points competition is a crash, and the Slovak falls about as often as London property prices. Rafa¯ Majka is almost as emphatic a favourite in the KoM competition. Simon Yates may take the white that his brother won last year.

Which rider do you tip for a break-out performance?

Lilian Calmejane’s extraordinary spring suggests that he is ready to thrive at the Tour. My only misgiving is that his strength - his versatility - may also turn into a weakness unless he hones one speciality.

What do you think of the route, and which stage are you most looking forward to?

ASO are inching closer to the formula of short, sharp stages that has brought the Vuelta success. The two stand-out stages !inish in Chambéry and Foix. The former showcases France’s most recherché mountain range, the Jura, and features three of the hardest climbs ever tackled in the Tour: the Biche, Grand Colombier and the Mont du Chat.

What is going to be the tactical narrative of this race?

The wall-to-wall TV coverage should ensure more inventive racing on the !lat stages. Beyond this, two teams and their very familiar styles will dominate the GC battle: Sky with their human combine harvesters versus Movistar’s mercurial crop rotation.