Tour de France 2015 Favourites stage 12: Froome's knockoutblow

Four cols evenly distributed en route and an uphill finish. Chances are we are we going to see the Sky-train powering up the last climb in a pace so high nobody even thinks about attacking and Froome finishing it all off eventually. Just to show who's boss. (Slideshow route/profile)

Sky did some training in the Critérium du Dauphiné with the tactics that brought them the Tour de France-win with Wiggins. And guess what, it was successful. The black squad definitely has the right material to so with old hands Richie Porte and Geraint Thomas strengthened with fresh new riders Wout Poels, Nicolas Roche and Leopold König. Rest assured, we will see Sky’s scorched earth policy back to its former glory all to often this Tour. The team is the best, their leader is the best.

Obviously, another scenario would be the escapees to have raced to such a big lead that they can hold their ground till the end. Expect adventurous minds such as Steven Kruijswijk, Tim Wellens and Pierre Rolland.

If it boils down to a battle between battered GC men, young Thibaut Pinot could be the deep dark horse. But Quintana, Contador and Nibali do have some tor prove also. Do they have the legs?

*** Chris Froome
** Nairo Quintana, Alberto Contador, Thibaut Pinot
* Steven Kruijswijk, Tim Wellens, Pierre Rolland, Vincenzo Nibali