Tour de France race guide

We take a closer look at the 21 stages that will decide the biggest bike race in the world.

Preview of the 102nd edition

The biggest race in cycling is upon us with the Tour de France (4-26 July) looking set to provide one of the most exciting editions in years.

The race should see a mouthwatering battle for the maillot jaune with Chris Froome among a string of top contenders hoping to take victory over the three weeks.

Organisers the ASO have endeavoured the liven up the route for 2015, adding in a number of tricky tests, cobbles and an array of wildcard medium mountain stages.

There are less chances for the pure sprinters, and more scope for drama, particularly during a tricky opening phase including the Grand Depart in Utrecht, Holland.

Stages

Stage 1: Saturday, July 4 – Utrecht to Utrecht – 13.8km individual time trial

The race begins with a short and technical test against the clock in Utrecht. The course is pan flat but contains an endless barrage of tight turns and is consequently as much a test of bike-handling skill as it is power.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport between 1300-1645 and ITV4 between 1300-1700.

Stage 2: Sunday, July 5 – Utrecht to Zelande – 166km

The race remains in the Netherlands for part two of the Grand Depart, with a flat parcours suggesting a bunch sprint. The coastal winds may have other ideas, with the potential to rip the race apart if conditions are right.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport between 1215-1645 and ITV4 between 1300-1700.

Stage 3: Monday, July 6 – Anvers to Huy – 159.5km

The peloton will leave the Netherlands behind and cross the border into Belgium for an intriguing finish. It ends on the legendary Mur de Huy, a short but devilishly steep climb made famous by the one-day Ardennes classic La Fleche Wallonne. The climb is only 1.3km long but carries a maximum gradient over 20 per cent, which could create small time gaps between the favourites.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport between 1215-1645 and ITV4 between 1300-1630.

Stage 4: Tuesday, July 7 – Seraing to Cambrai – 221.5km

A potentially pivotal day, stage four sees the riders take on the dreaded cobbles of Belgium and northern France for the second year in succession. It caused chaos in the 2014 edition and has the potential to do the same once again. There are seven sectors of pavé totalling 13.3km. The route is largely flat, but the cobbles could create significant gaps between the favourites for overall victory, as well as carrying a high risk of crashes.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport between 1315-1645 and ITV4 between 1300-1630.

Stage 5: Wednesday, July 8 – Arras to Amiens – 189.5km

After two stressed and strenuous days, the Tour returns fully to French roads and settles down somewhat with a flat stage that should end in a sprint finish.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport between 1315-1645 and ITV4 between 1400-1630.

Stage 6: Thursday, July 9 – Abbeville to Le Havre – 191.5km

Wind will once again be the watchword as the riders make their way west along the notoriously blustery Normandy coastline. Every gust will threaten to blow the peloton to pieces, meaning teams will have to position themselves well and ride hard if they are to avoid being caught out. A short but sharp uphill finish should suit punchy climbers.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport between 1315-1645 and ITV4 between 1400-1630.

Stage 7: Friday, July 10 – Livarot to Fougeres – 190.5km

The race heads inland for a gently undulating day that should end in a more certain bunch sprint. With fewer chances this year the sprint trains will be out in full force.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport between 1315-1645 and ITV4 between 1400-1630.

Stage 8: Saturday, July 11 – Rennes to Mur-de-Bretagne – 181.5km

A difficult opening week continues with another day offering the potential of yet more splits in the pack. It will all come down to the short but steep uphill finish on the Mur de Bretgne, which has a maximum gradient of over 12 per cent. The steepest parts are at the bottom, so the fight for position should be frantic and the attacks are likely to come early.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport between 1315-1645 and ITV4 between 1330-1630.

Stage 9: Sunday, July 12 – Vannes to Plumelec – 28km team time trial

The opening week ends with yet another stage that will create time gaps between the contenders for overall victory. As team time trials go, this one is long and undulating, and it is further complicated by the 1.7km climb to the finish, which averages 6.2 per cent in gradient.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport between 1400-1645 and ITV4 between 1400-1630.

Stage 10: Tuesday, July 14 – Tarbes to La Pierre-Saint-Martin – 167km

The race resumes after the rest day with the first of five mountaintop finishes. The Pyrenean climb to La Pierre-Saint-Martin is a long and difficult grind that should create splits and give the first indication of who among the race favourites has the strongest climbing legs.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport TBC and ITV4 between 1330-1600.

Stage 11: Wednesday, July 15 – Pau to Cauterets – 188km

Another mountainous day in the Pyrenees takes the peloton over two iconic climbs, the Col d’Aspin and the legendary Col du Tourmalet, before finishing on with a summit finish at the ski town of Cauterets. The Tourmalet is likely to be the key climb of the three, with its long distance and steep gradients almost certain to create an elite lead group who will then go on to battle for the victory on the last, easier ascent. There is also a decent chance of a breakaway winner.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport TBC and ITV4 between 1300-1700.

Stage 12: Thursday, July 16 – Lannemezan to Plateau de Beille – 195km

The third of three consecutive summit finishes is another brute and will provide a stern test to legs already drained by the previous two days’ exertions. The general classification contenders will once again go toe to toe and gaps between them are likely.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport TBC and ITV4 between 1200-1630.

Stage 13: Friday, July 17 – Muret to Rodez – 198.5km

The race leaves the Pyrenees and heads north on a rolling transition stage that should suit an all-rounder or a punchy climber. The last 563m to the finish line climbs steeply uphill at an average gradient of 9.6 per cent. The contenders for overall victory will be keen not to lose time on this tricky finish.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport TBC and ITV4 between 1400-1630.

Stage 14: Saturday, July 18 – Rodez to Mende – 178.5km

The Tour heads back into the mountains – the Massif Central this time – for a day that the general classification teams could well leave to the breakaway to fight out. The final climb is short but very steep, with the summit being followed by just shy of 2km of flat to the finish.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport TBC and ITV4 between 1400-1630.

Stage 15: Sunday, July 19 – Mende to Valence – 183km

Dropping out of the mountains once more, the sprinters come back to the fore today. Although there are plenty of climbs on the route, the last of them is too far out to deny the fast men a bunch finish.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport TBC and ITV4 between 1400-1630.

Stage 16: Monday, July 20 – Bourg-de-Peage to Gap – 201km

This finish is becoming a regular fixture at the Tour, with the testing climb of the Col de Manse being followed by a fast and at times dangerous descent back down into the city of Gap. It’s another day where the general classification contenders will look to stay safe and avoid time losses rather than go on the attack. There is a good chance of a breakaway winner.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport TBC and ITV4 between 1400-1630.

Stage 17: Wednesday, July 22 – Digne-les-Bains to Pra-Loup – 161km

After the second rest day, the general classification battles sparks back into life with the fourth of the race’s six summit finishes and the first in the Alps. It’s probably the easiest of all the summit finishes and gaps between the yellow jersey hopefuls are unlikely to be large.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport TBC and ITV4 between 1330-1600.

Stage 18: Thursday, July 23 – Gap to St-Jean-de-Maurienne – 186.5km

Another meaty day in the Alps and potentially another one for the breakaway. The Glandon is the biggest test of the stage and the peloton will be whittled down significantly on its slopes. All-rounders should fare best today.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport TBC and ITV4 between 1330-1700.

Stage 19: Friday, July 24 – St-Jean-de-Maurienne to La Toussuire-Les Sybelles – 138km

Summit finish number five takes the peloton back to La Toussuire. First, though, the riders must tackle the Glandon again – going up in the opposite direction this time – before carrying on over the Col de la Croix de Fer. It’s only a short day but the barrage of climbing means the riders will be tired by the time they reach the foot of the final ascent and weaker legs will be ruthlessly exposed on the final climb.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport TBC and ITV4 between 1330-1700.

Stage 20: Saturday, July 25 – Modane to Alpe d’Huez – 110.5km

This short but savage stage visits two imposing climbs but has fallen victim to a late alteration due to landslides. Gone is the ascent of the mighty Col du Galibier and what was set to be the highest summit of the Tour. In its place comes the Col de la Croix de Fer ahead of the legendary Alpe d’Huez. One last scrap between the yellow jersey hopefuls on the hairpins of the climb should provide a grandstand finish. Whoever leads the race at the top will win overall.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport TBC and ITV4 between 1200-1600.

Stage 21: Sunday, July 26 – Sevres to Paris – 109.5km

The race ends with the traditional – and largely processional – sprint stage into Paris, finishing on the Champs-Elysees. The race leader will sip champagne with team-mates early in the day and only has to avoid crashing to seal victory. But that’s easier said than done when the sprint teams start ramping up the pace ahead of the the bunch finish.

TV coverage: Live on Eurosport TBC and ITV4 between 1600-1900.