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Early-season report card: how the green jersey contenders are shaping up for summer

The WorldTour's elite fast men gear up for the Tour de France

As April draws to a close, the WorldTour season is about to hot up – with attention turning to the Grand Tours.

The Giro d’Italia is just ten days away, while the 101st Tour de France will be upon us in less than ten weeks.

For the likes of Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar) the focus now shifts to the race for the maglia rosa, while Chris Froome (Team Sky) begins to hone his Tour de France form at the Tour de Romandie, which started today (April 29).

Mark Cavendish has wasted little time in finding top form after returning to action after illness at the Tour of Turkey and winning the first two stages. pic: Tim de Waele/OPQS

The WorldTour’s fast men have also been gearing up for the summer – British champion Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) winning the first two stages of the Tour of Turkey – where Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) has returned from action.

Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano) and team-mate John Degenkolb, meanwhile, have been gearing up for the Tour with a recce of the Yorkshire routes.

All will do battle for the green jersey at the Tour de France, as they bid to prevent Peter Sagan (Cannondale) making it three consecutive wins.

But how is the race for the prized maillot jaune shaping up? Read our April report cards on the WorldTour’s fast men over the following pages, and share your own nominations in the RCUK Forum.

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