Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo)
Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo)
Peter Sagan has held a monopoly on the green jersey since first winning it in 2012, and topped the points classification by a massive 149 points last time out.
The rouleur’s rouleur, Slovakian champion Sagan’s consistency and versatility are the perfect combination to win the green jersey – last year’s victory arrived despite a single stage win to his name.
And he has been proving his ability in recent weeks, recapturing his best form to win the Tour of California, where he both time-trialled and climbed outstandingly – an ominous sign for his green jersey rivals.
At the Tour, he will need to stay safe in the crosswinds on stage two and recapture his form on the cobbles, something he lacked – by his standards – in the spring, but if he is leading after the first week he should win the jersey.
However, with little support in the sprints – Daniele Bennati is likely to be his lead-out man – Sagan will mostly have to do it alone.
Moving to Tinkoff-Saxo has not paid off the way he would have liked so far, and missing out on the green jersey would be another bitter blow.
Form guide
Tour de France stage wins: four
2015 wins: Tirreno-Adriatico (one stage, points classification); Amgen Tour of California (two stages, overall winner); Tour de Suisse (two stages, points classification); Slovakian national time trial; Slovakian national road race