Tour de France 2017 Favourites stage 1: Chrono-specialists for first yellow jersey

The 1st stage of the 2017 Tour de France is a flat individual time trial. Who are favourites to win the race and take the first yellow jersey? (Slideshow route/profile)

The 1st stage of the 2017 Tour de France is played out on a flat course of 14 kilometres in the German city Düsseldorf. You could compare it to the opening stage of the 2015 Tour de France in Utrecht. Also a time trial, also a flat route, also in a city centre. Rohan Dennis powered to the yellow jersey ahead of favourite Tony Martin. This time Dennis is not competing, furtermore the German is racing for his home-crowds. How does Martin handle the pressure? The course is perfect for him. But it is as perfect for dark-horse Jos van Emden. The Dutchman powered to his first World Tour-victory in the last ITT of the Giro. In Utrecht Van Emden finished 10 seconds down on Martin.

Favourites 1st stage 2017 Tour de France

*** Tony Martin, Jos van Emden
** Stephen Cummings, Richie Porte, Primoz Roglic, Michael Matthews, Vasil Kiryienka
* Michal Kwiatkowski, Jonathan Castroviejo, Fabio Felline, Chris Froome, Stefan Küng