Mark Cavendish (Etixx-QuickStep)
Mark Cavendish (Etixx-QuickStep)
The last man to win the green jersey before Peter Sagan, Mark Cavendish is one of only five men to have topped the points classification at all three Grand Tours.
And having been in top form so far this season, winning 12 races and claiming the overall win at the Dubai Tour too, he has a big chance of bagging the green jersey.
Marcel Kittel’s absence can only help the Manx Missile, removing one of his fastest rivals and buoying his hopes of adding to the 25 Tour stage wins currently to his name.
With a team well-suited to the winds, he could pull on the green jersey as early as stage two and the revamp in the rules means weight of stage victories could swing the balance overall.
Cav won’t have it all his own way though – Alexander Kristoff is also in great form, and the likes of the Norwegian and Peter Sagan can earn points on the undulating stages which don’t favour Cavendish.
That said, he climbed well on the short, steep Michaelgate ascent at the National Championships, and with lead-out man Mark Renshaw by his side this could be a very grand Tour indeed for Cavendish.
Form guide
Tour de France stage wins: 25
2015 wins: Tour de San Luis (one stage); Dubai Tour (two stages, points classification, overall winner); Clasica de Almeria; Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne; Tour of Turkey (four stages, points classification); Amgen Tour of California (four stages, points classification)