Tour de France 2018: Stage-by-stage guide of the routes, profiles, rest days, dates and more

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The 2018 Tour de France gets under way on Saturday 7 July in Noirmoutier-En-L’Ïle in Vendee. The peloton face a 35.5km time trial on stage 3, a testing climb up Mûr-de-Bretagne on stage 6, a trip along the treacherous cobbles to Roubaix on stage 9, a climb up the iconic Alpe d’Huez on stage 12, a sojourn in northern Spain on stage 16, an unprecedented grid start on stage 17 and a decisive individual time trial on the penultimate day.

Chris Froome is one of the leading contenders as he chases history, hoping to join a elite band of legendary riders to have conquered the Tour de France five times. But he is expected to face tough competition from a strong Movistar team fronted by the diminutive Colombian Nairo Quintana, and from Bahrain-Merida’s Vincenzo Nibali, the only non-British rider to have won the Tour since 2011.

Other candidates include BMC’s former Froome domestique Richie Porte, Sunweb’s 2017 Giro champion Tom Dumoulin, Ag2r-La Mondiale’s home-favourite Romain Bardet and Mitchelton-Scott’s British rider Adam Yates.

Take a look through our stage-by-stage guide to the Tour de France:

A flat opening stage following the coastline which will expose the peloton to crosswinds from the Atlantic Ocean and is likely to end in a bunch sprint.

A route through the Vendee countryside with another opportunity for the sprinters to clinch a stage victory.

A team trial around Cholet which will give an early indication as to the quality and depth of the leading groups.

The visit to Brittany could be the moment for the dominant sprinter of the Tour to make his mark.

A tricky stage to Finistere full of narrow roads and short, sharp climbs.

The Mur de Bretagne will be scaled twice in the final kilometres in the toughest test of the first week.

This is a long stage which invites a breakaway but is likely to won by a sprinter.

The sprinters could be scuppered by the Normandy crosswinds – conditions will be crucial.

A testing route consisting of 22km of cobblestone split into 15 treacherous section which could claim a few casualties.

A rare trip off the asphalt and on to a gravel road is likely to puncture a few tyres.

A first serious taste of the mountains, albeit on a very short stage.

A summit finish on top of the Tour de France’s most iconic climb: Alpe d’Huez.

A gentler day after three stages in the mountains and one for the sprinters to contest.

A stage with four categorised climbs including a sharp climb to Mende which will hurt tired legs.

Another undulating day ripe for a breakaway.

A long and draining stage with three ascents in the second half to bring out the best in the elite climbers.

The shortest regular stage for 30 years and yet a brutal one, finishing on the steep Col du Portet, which could prove decisive.

Some respite for the climbers after three draining days, and another chance for the sprinters to shine.

The famous Aspin-Tourmalet combination in the middle of this stage makes it perfect for a yellow jersey assault.

A time trial with enough short climbs – including the final Col du Pinodieta – to upset the traditional time triallists.

The procession into the Champs-Elysees for those that have made it, and one final opportunity for the power riders.