Tour de France 2021: Favourites

Mark Cavendish Tour - Tour de France 2021: Favouritesfoto: Cor VosThe 2021 Tour de France was a fascinating battle from start tot finish . Not so much for the GC victory – Tadej Pogacar was in a class of his own -, but virtually all stages were intriguing in itself. Mark Cavendish won four sprints finishes to match the all-time record of 34 stage wins held by Belgian legend Eddy Merckx since the 1970’s.

Read about the pre-race favourites or click on the links in underneath scheme for our prognosis regarding the individual stages. Obviously, all these articles were written before the start of the race(s).

Tour de France 2021 favourites – per stage

date favourites km type
1 26-6 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 1 Van der Poel for maillot jaune 187 hills
2 27-6 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 2 Punchers at Mûr-de-Bretagne 182 hills
3 28-6 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 3 Fast finishers showdown #1 182 flat
4 29-6 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 4 Sprinters in Fougères 152 flat
5 30-6 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 5 Specialists on rolling route 27 ITT
6 1-7 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 6 Back to the fast men 144 flat
7 2-7 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 7 Late attack or strong sprinters 248 hills
8 3-7 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 8 Climbers with fast descent 151 mountains
9 4-7 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 9 First high altitude finish 145 mountains
5-7 rest day
10 6-7 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 10 Bunch sprint in Valence 186 flat
11 7-7 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 11 Up and down the Ventoux 199 mountain
12 8-7 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 12 Sprint after crosswinds 161 flat
13 9-7 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 13 Sprinters or attackers 220 flat
14 10-7 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 14 Fast descenders in hilly race 184 hills
15 11-7 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 15 Downhill finish in Pyrenees 192 mountains
12-7 rest day
16 13-7 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 16 Breakaway day 169 hills
17 14-7 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 17 GC clash at the Portet 178 mountains
18 15-7 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 18 Last chance for climbers 130 mountains
19 16-7 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 19 Sprinters or attackers 203 flat
20 17-7 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 20 ITT with yellow lining 31 ITT
21 18-7 Tour de France 2021 favourites stage 21 Cavendish for his 35th 112 flat

More about the Tour de France



Watch the highlights of recent races here:

Tour de France 2021: GC Favourites

Primoz roglic pn - Tour de France 2021: GC FavouritesLast year, Jumbo-Visma successfully challenged Ineos' dominance, but UAE Team Emirates ran away with the yellow jersey. Who are the pre-race favourites for the yellow jersey in 2021?
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Tour de France 2021 Favourites stage 1: Van der Poel for first maillot jaune

Mathieu van der Poel - Tour de France 2021 Favourites stage 1: Van der Poel for first maillot jauneThe Tour de France kicks off with a race for punchers. Alaphilippe could send the French into ecstasies by winning the first yellow jersey. But the likes of Van Aert and Van der Poel will also be eyeing their chances...
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Tour de France 2021 Favourites stage 2: Punchers at Mûr-de-Bretagne

Julian Alaphilippe fleche - Tour de France 2021 Favourites stage 2: Punchers at Mûr-de-BretagneThe finale of the 2nd stage at the Tour is similar to stage 1's. The finish climb is shorter though, and the steepest part is even steeper. Cyclingstage.com takes a look at the riders who are likely to shine at the Mûr-de-Bretagne.
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Tour de France 2021 Favourites stage 3: Fast finishers showdown #1

Caleb ewan giro - Tour de France 2021 Favourites stage 3: Fast finishers showdown #1With stages 1 and 2 favouring the punchers, the next two stages are perfect for the pure bred sprinters. Sam Bennett was dominant in 2020, but the Irishman does not take part this year.
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Tour de France 2021 Favourites stage 4: Sprint in Fougères

Tim Merlier - Tour de France 2021 Favourites stage 4: Sprint in FougèresA bunch sprint is the most likely outcome in the 4th stage of the Tour de France. Who'll show the fastest legs in the streets of Fougères?
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More articlesTour de France 2021 Favourites stage 5: ITT specialists on rolling routeTour de France 2021 Favourites stage 6: Back to the fast menTour de France 2021 Favourites stage 7: Late attack or strong sprintersTour de France 2021 Favourites stage 8: Climbers with fast descentTour de France 2021 Favourites stage 9: First high altitude finishTour de France 2021 Favourites stage 10: Sprint in ValenceTour de France 2021 Favourites stage 11: Up and down the VentouxTour de France 2021 Favourites stage 12: Sprint after crosswindsTour de France 2021 Favourites stage 13: Sprinters or attackersTour de France 2021 Favourites stage 14: Fast descenders in hilly raceTour de France 2021 Favourites stage 15: Downhill finish in the PyreneesTour de France 2021 Favourites stage 16: Breakaway dayTour de France 2021 Favourites stage 17: GC clash at the PortetTour de France 2021 Favourites stage 18: Last chance for climbersTour de France 2021 Favourites stage 19: Sprinters or attackersTour de France 2021 Favourites stage 20: ITT with yellow liningTour de France 2021 Favourites stage 21: Cavendish for his 35th