Mark Cavendish last year sealed his place as King of the Champs-Élysées, winning on cycling’s most famous finish for an unprecedented third time as he took the green jersey. After a, by his standards, relatively quite Tour in much of it spent in an uncharecteristic supporting role he showed that he is the form sprinter with a blistering win to take Friday's stage coming from a long way out to zoom past Nico Roche and Luis Leon Sanchez when the two escapees were bare metres from the line.
There will be plenty of sprinters, including former HTC team mates Matt Goss, and Andre Greipel who will be up for breaking his stranglehold but with Team Sky pledged to lead him out Cavendish is definitely the man to beat as his team go for a hatrick of stage wins.

While the racing on the Champs-Élysées will be as hectic as ever, the 60 kilometre run into Paris will see the usual high jinks, glasses of Champagne and photo opportunities featuring the jersey wearers.

The Chateau in Rambouillet was one of Napoleon’s imperial residences – his final visit was in June 1815, on his way to exile on St Helena, and curiously, the town is nowadays twinned with Waterloo, where he had suffered his final defeat a week earlier. Nowadays, it’s the summer residence of the French President, today’s stage of course finishing just metres from the Élysée Palace.
Geraint Thomas says: I think I’ll have to go for Cav on this, he’s won three years in a row and never lost here, especially with the team going for three stage wins in a row - that would really put the seal on a great Tour and put a marker down for next weekend's Olympic road race.
Fantasy Cycling Tour de France Stage 20 transfer window closes at 1PM UK time on Sunday
A lot of large SUV drivers seem to be fat. Maybe owning a large, wide car makes them feel slimmer. A bit like buying their clothes from Jackamo (...
It is sad for the individuals concerned but (and this is a general point, rather than specific to this story), we're much better off overall for...
I agree with Pogacar regarding social media. The likes of Facebook, Instagram have done untold damage, especially to the minds of young people....
Lorry carrying 25 tonnes of beer catches fire on the M11...
If you're a cyclist on a road you are public enemy number 1.
He advocates only riding mountainbikes solely offroad for ultimate safety, which is great if you're a millionaire of leisure living in Colorado...
That looks like a fun bike. Frame only, 2 and an 1/2 grand.
Fair enough, personal experience may trump (not that one) theory. However, the bonking I have experienced has been due to lack of carbs. Your point...
mdavidfrodo?
in the UK we have policing which to a greater or lesser extent relies on assistance from members of the public......