Five summit finishes and ascents such as the Tourmalet and Hautacam, with just one individual time trial, means this year’s       will give the mountain men a great chance to shine.

From the Yorkshire Dales, through to the Pennines, Vosges, Pyrenees and Alps there are 63 categorised climbs in total – 17 of which are rated category one or above.

But with brutal climbs littering the route, who will be wearing the iconic polka dot jersey – won last year by Nairo Quintana (Movistar) – come the final podium in Paris?

There is certainly no shortage of climbing talent on display, from 2013 world number one Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) to Alpe d’Huez stage winner last year, Christophe Riblon (Ag2r-La Mondiale).

And while Giro d’Italia champion Quintana will not be defending the jersey this year, the battle for the maillot a pois is likely to be a fierce one.

Read our thoughts on the contenders for King of the Mountains over the follow pages.