Tour de France 2015: Favourites
Before the start of the 2015 Tour de France title holder Vincenzo Nibali, Alberto Contador, Nairo Quintana and Chris Froome were set to be the big contenders. Eventually, the Briton turned out to be the best rider in France with the Colombian following close behind.
Read about the overall contenders and click links in underneath scheme for favourites per stage. Obviously, all these articles were written before the start of the race(s).
Favourites 2015 Tour de France – per stage:
| Date | Favourites | Length | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sa 4-7 | Tony Martin versus Tom Dumoulin | 13,7 km | ITT |
| 2 | Su 5-7 | Sprinters and/or echelons | 166 km | flat |
| 3 | Mo 6-7 | Up to the puncheurs! | 159.5 km | hilly |
| 4 | Tu 7-7 | Wanted: King of the cobbles | 223.5 km | cobbles |
| 5 | We 8-7 | Cav, Kittel, or… | 189.5 km | flat |
| 6 | Th 9-7 | Cav wishing for echelons | 191.5 km | flat |
| 7 | Fr 10-7 | King Kittel and his sprint throne | 190.5 km | flat |
| 8 | Sa 11-7 | Rebound for puncheurs | 181.5 km | hilly |
| 9 | Su 12-7 | TTT with uphill arrival | 28 km | TTT |
| Mo 13-7 | rest day in Pau | |||
| 10 | Tu 14-7 | Pinot in the Pyrenees | 167 km | hilly, finish uphill |
| 11 | We 15-7 | Big name(s) or battered GC men | 188 km | mountains |
| 12 | Th 16-7 | Take your pick from the Big Four | 195 km | mountains |
| 13 | Fr 17-7 | Wanted: sprinter/puncheur/descender | 198.5 km | hilly |
| 14 | Sa 18-7 | Punchy climbers, again! | 178.5 km | hilly |
| 15 | Su 19-7 | Three faced stage (winner) | 183 km | hilly, flat finish |
| 16 | Mo 20-7 | To escapees´ paradise Gap | 201 km | hilly |
| Tu 21-7 | rest day in Gap | |||
| 17 | We 22-7 | Proven tactics: attack in descent | 161 km | mountains |
| 18 | Th 23-7 | 186.5 km | mountains | |
| 19 | Fr 24-7 | Explosive climbers alarm! | 138 km | mountains |
| 20 | Sa 25-7 | Final chance on holy ground | 110.5 km | mountains |
| 21 | Su 26-7 | World Championships of sprint | 109.5 km | flat |
Tour de France 2015: Images and more
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Tour de France 2015 Favourites stage 1 – Tony Martin versus Tom Dumoulin
The 2015 Tour de France starts with a 13.7 kilometres ITT in Utrecht, the Netherlands. In recent years Tony Martin was the master of the discipline, but young Dutchman Tom Dumoulin is getting stronger every year. Who is going to take the first yellow jersey?Read more »
Tour de France 2015 Favourites stage 2 - Sprinters and/or echelons
The 2nd stage of the 2015 Tour de France is extremely flat. As the second half of the race is on the Dutch coast the only thing that could spoil a sprinters party is crosswinds. Cavendish, Kristoff, or ....?Read more »
Tour de France 2015 Favourites stage 3 – Up to the puncheurs!
Leading from Antwerp to the Wall of Huy, stage 3 is set to detonate the fireworks on the super-steep closing climbs familiar from La Fleche Wallone. It is up to the puncheurs!Read more »
King of the cobbles
Stage 4 is a mini-version of Paris Roubaix offering seven cobbled sectors. So that’s party time for the specialists. Cyclingstage.com brings you the major contenders.Read more »
Tour de France 2015 Favourites stage 5 - Kristoff to best Cavendish?
Last time the Tour de France visited Amiens the breakaway took it to the end with Stuart O'Grady celebrating. Chances are it will not be like that in 2015 as the route is a sprinter’s dream. Who is going to challenge Cavendish?Read more »
More articles
Tour de France 2015 Favourites stage 6 – Cross-winds and a punchy finale'King Cav' and his sprint throne
Rebound for puncheurs
TTT with uphill arrival
Pinot in the Pyrenees
Big name(s) or battered GC men
Froome's knockoutblow
sprinter/puncheur/descender
Punchy climbers, again!
Tour de France 2015 Favourites stage 15 - Three faced stage (winner)
To escapees´ paradise Gap
attack in descent
Tour de France 2015 Favourites stage 18 - Mountain stage looking for classics specialist
Tour de France 2015 Favourites stage 19 - Explosive climbers alarm!
Tour de France 2015 Favourites stage 20 - Final chance on holy ground
Tour de France 2015 Favourites stage 21 - World Championships of sprint
GC Favourites