Le Tour de France 2016: Everything You Need to Know

It’s difficult to choose. The route the organisers have produced this year has so much variety and scope for exciting racing that it’s difficult to pin down one stage to look out for in particular. The first weekend is always eventful and with two massive days in the Pyrenees it again will surely not disappoint. For me, the uphill time trial in the final week coming directly before two big Alpine stages could be the vital stage of the Tour. It’s only 17km long but has the potential to turn the race on its head so late on in proceedings.

Some of the home grown talent could be the most exciting to watch in terms of causing an upset. Adam Yates impressed at the Critérium du Dauphine but has expressed he is still too young to be going for the general classification this year. Similarly, Dan Martin lit the Dauphine up with strong rides in the high mountains (something we’ve not seen from the Irishman before) and he could well be in with a shout when the road goes upwards. However, I think it would be fair to say we know who the battle for the general classification will be between –Froome, Quintana and Contador.

Watching Mark Cavendish in 2009. He was simply unbeatable in that Tour winning six stages and alongside Bradley Wiggins’ ride to third place on GC he heralded the coming of the Brits to a European dominated sport. Cavendish’s sprint to victory on the Champs Elysées in Paris was perhaps the most impressive sprint I’ve ever seen –the other sprinters weren’t even in the same timezone.

You’ve got to look at the hors categorie mountaintop finishes of Arcalis, Ventoux at the Emosson dam in Switzerland. The Tour de France awards double points for mountaintop finishes so we could well see a repeat of last year where the yellow jersey winner also won the fight for the polka dots as the general classification favourites clash on the climbs that award the most points in the King of the Mountains competition.

Froome has got as good a chance as ever and was clearly the strongest in the Dauphine. Steve Cummings will be one to watch, not for the GC but for a stage win along the way. Over the last year he’s pulled off some remarkable victories showing his insatiable power and tactical wizardry to the full and I fully expect him to come away with another victory in this year’s race. Geraint Thomas will also be interesting to watch as he continues his progression from all-rounder to general classification hopeful. Arguably he’s been missing a beat so far this year so it will be intriguing to see if he can finally pull his form together for the Tour de France.

It would have to be Eddy Merckx. He earned the nickname the Cannibal for a reason and is the greatest cyclist the world has ever seen. It would be fascinating to see how his racing style would translate to this clinical era of marginal gains–and more importantly if today’s best riders could hold a flame to him.

Always does, always will. I hope instead it encourages people who don’t ride a bike or ride infrequently to get out on the bike more often. I ride my bike enough as it is.

A bike, duh. In all seriousness, I think you can’t look much further than a good baselayer for one vital but often overlooked piece of cycling clothing to have in your wardrobe. They keep you warm in winter, cool in summer and dry when sweating. Add to this that the pros always wear them whatever the weather and you know you’re on to a winner. [post_card id="1"] Our thanks to Chris for sharing his insights into this year’s Tour. Explore ProBikeKit’s official Tour de France product range today and discover the TDF’s parcours in 3D below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s69OE99usEk Kit yourself out like the champions on the Peloton this year with the official Tour de France range by Le Coq Sportif . Including all the iconic jerseys plus exclusive new jerseys and printed fan tees, The Hut’s Tour de France range is all you need to get back on the bike and explore the outdoors. [product_display id="1"] [product_display id="2"]