Going for green

The contest for the points jersey could be the hardest-fought in many a year

Mathieu van der Poel is set to make his Tour debut, and if nothing else that should liven up the battle for the green jersey.

It was Sam Bennett, a pure sprinter, who prevailed last year, although Wout van Aert was almost his equal in the sprints. This year, with so many stages suiting the puncheurs over the sprinters, the balance could tilt towards the likes of Van Aert and Van der Poel.

Van Aert said earlier this year that as well as helping his Jumbo-visma team leader, Primož Roglič, to try to win the yellow jersey, he believes he can target green. And that sets up the possibility of the Tour being the stage for the latest instalment of his captivating rivalry with his old cyclocross foe, Van der Poel.

The first stage in Brittany has a hilltop finish that looks tailor-made for Julian Alaphilippe, but which is certainly not beyond either Van der Poel or Van Aert. The green jersey competition should explode into life as early as day one.