Since Maurice Garin won the first edition in 1903, 59 more riders – discounting those since disqualified – have won the Tour.

Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Jacques Anquetil and Miguel Indurain have all won the Tour de France five times, making them jointly the most-successful riders in the race’s history.

This year, former winners Vincenzo Nibali, Chris Froome and Alberto Contador and former best young rider Nairo Quintana are the favourites to win overall.

Brits on Tour: record-equalling ten British riders set for Tour de France

The first person to wear the yellow jersey in this year’s race will be the winner of the stage one time trial.

Former four-time world TT champion Fabian Cancellara has earned that honour on the last four times the race

Peter Sagan has held a monopoly on the green jersey in the last three years, but he has some way to go to match German Erik Zabel, who won six times in a row from 1996 to 2001.

He will match Irishman Sean Kelly with four wins if he claims the green jersey this year, but 2011 winner Mark Cavendish will be among those out to stop him.

Tour de France 2015: startlist

Richard Virenque, now seen modelling Festina watches, has won seven King of the Mountains jerseys, while recent winners include Quintana and Rafal Majka.

As riders in the breakaway often stand more chance of being first over the climbs earlier in the stages, the ProContinental teams – invited by wildcard and so often keen for the exposure which comes with being in the breakaway – will usually be those to contest the jersey early on.

Finally, the best young rider last year was Frenchman Thibaut Pinot but he faces a difficult task to beat 2013 winner Quintana, who is still eligible, this year.

For the full list of teams and riders in this year’s race, the startlist can be found here.