The route for the 2015 Tour was confirmed on Wednesday and it was announced that riders will start with a race against the clock over just 13.7 kilometres in the Netherlands city of Utrecht on July 4.
With seven mountain stages, three hilly stages and five summit finishes, the 102nd edition of the showpiece event will favour the climbers and Vincenzo Nibali will fancy his chances of defending his title.
Windy conditions in Utrecht will test the riders right at the start of the three-week race, as will the seven cobbled sections during the 221km fourth stage from Seriang to Cambrai.
A demanding penultimate stage, raced over 110km, will end with a gruelling finish on Alpe d'Huez and four consecutive mountanin stages will sort the men from the boys.
Tour director Christian Prudhomme is predicting another major tussle for the yellow jersey.
"We can't say the route is tailor-made for Nibali because you never know what can happen," Prudhomme told reporters.
"One thing is sure this Tour is going to be a huge battle."
There will also be just the one team time trial, on stage nine, from Vannes to Plumelec over a 28km course.
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