The World's most famous cycling race begins this afternoon, as 198 riders prepare to take to the streets of Utrecht in the Netherlands for a 13.8km time trial. The race looks like it will be a four horse race with reigning champion Vincenzo Nibali, former champions Alberto Contador, Chris Froome and former runner up Nairo Quintana all in position to take the Maillot Jaune in Paris on July 26th.
Three Irish riders begin the race today, including one debutant, all looking to write their name into the folklore of Le Tour.
36. Nicolas Roche (Team Sky)
Roche begins his seventh Tour de France today and his first in the colours of Team Sky. Roche's participation in the race was under threat when leaked details of Sky's team did not have the Irish rider on the list. When the team was announced, Roche was given the role of road captain, meaning he will be one of Chris Froome's loyal liutenants in the former champions bid for a second Yellow Jersey.
Roche has excellent experience in the Grand Tours. He has finished in the top ten twice at the Vuelta a Espana. He briefly held the leaders Red Jersey in 2013 too. His best finish in the Tour de France was a 12th place finish in 2012.
167. Daniel Martin (Team Cannondale-Garmin)
Martin has realistic ambitions of finishing in the top ten after an excellent 2015 with Team Cannondale-Garmin. He will go into this years race as leader of the team with Andrew Talansky and Ryder Hesjedal. Martin already has an excellent pedigree in the race. He was victorious on Stage 9 in 2013 when he won on the mountain stage to Bagnères-de-Bigorre.
His form this year has seen him finish in seventh in the Critérium du Dauphiné which is seen as a curtain raiser to Le Tour and tenth in the Volta a Catalunya. Martin's best finish in the Tour de France was finishing 33rd in 2013.
193. Sam Bennett (Bora-Argon 18)
Ireland's most likely stage winner comes from our only debutant in this years race. 24 year old sprinter Sam Bennett makes his Grand Tour debut in the colours of Bora-Argon 18. The Carrick-on-Suir native has an excellent sprint pedigree winning stages in the Tour of Qatar and Bayern-Rundfahrt this year.
We don't know if Bennett will have the legs to last until the Champs-Elysees but expect him to feature prominently in the opening weeks sprints.
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
