Vincenzo Nibali
Italian champion and that win was needed for Nibali, who had an otherwise forgettable Tour build up. Once underway in La Grande Boucle he took stage 2 and outsmarted his GC opponents in stage 5, so maybe the build up was not bad after all.
Maybe? His performance in the ride to La Planche des Belles Filles catapulted him to a status of top favourite.
He came third in the 2012 Tour after another quiet build up. An in-form Nibali isn’t easily stopped.
Rui Costa
World champion and the only rider ever to win the extremely mountainous Tour de Suisse three times in a row. So climbing comes natural to him, a feat he underlined by taking the Queen Stage to Saas-Fee.
Richie Porte
Stand-in leader at Team Sky and not a bad one at all. Rather suprisingly to be honest, since his season was plagued with sat backs and injuries. In the first serious climb this Tour, near Gérardmer, only he and Nibali were able to stay in the slipstream of Alberto Contador.
Thibaut Pinot
Still only 24-years of age, the French talent almost as strong at the top finish near Gérardmer. His spectacular 2012 breakthrough was followed by a desastrous 2013 Tour, so hopefully three times a charm. In the spectacular La Planche des Belles Filles stage he came in second, just 15 seconds after the unapproachable Nibali.
Tour de France 2014 stage 14: Images and more
Click on the images to zoom
Related articles Riders and teams - Tour de France 2014 Favourites - Tour de France 2014 Withdrawals - Tour de France 2014 Favourites - Tour de France 2014 Route - Tour de France 2014 More articles Vuelta 2026: Route & rumours
Tour de France 2026: Route
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 1: Barcelona - Barcelona
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 2: Tarragona - Barcelona
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 3: Granollers - Les Angles
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 6: Pau - Gavarnie-Gèdre
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 9: Malemort – Ussel
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 10: Aurillac - Le Lioran
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 14: Mulhouse - Le Markstein
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 15: Champagnole - Plateau de Solaison
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 16: Evian-les-Bains - Thonon-les-Bains
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 18: Voiron - Orcières-Merlette
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 19: Gap - Alpe d’Huez
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 20: Bourg d'Oissans - Alpe d'Huez
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 21: Thoiry - Paris
Giro 2026: Route
Giro 2026 Route stage 1: Nesebăr – Burgas
Giro 2026 Route stage 2: Burgas - Veliko Tarnovo
Giro 2026 Route stage 3: Plovdiv - Sofia
Giro 2026 Route stage 4: Catanzaro - Cosenza
Giro 2026 Route stage 5: Praia a Mare – Potenza
Giro 2026 Route stage 6: Paestum - Napels
Giro 2026 Route stage 7: Formia - Blockhaus
Giro 2026 Route stage 8: Chieti - Fermo
Giro 2026 Route stage 9: Cervia – Corno alle Scale
Giro 2026 Route stage 10: Viareggio - Massa
Giro 2026 Route stage 11: Porcari - Chiavari
Giro 2026 Route stage 12: Imperia - Novi Ligure
Giro 2026 Route stage 13: Alessandria - Verbania
Giro 2026 Route stage 14: Aosta - Pila
Cycling Calendar 2026