Last year's winner, and though it sometimes felt like he and Andy Schleck were locked in a paint-drying contest, it's hard to deny he was a worthy winner. A year older, and with Bradley Wiggins offering a similar skillset on better form, Cadel is the second favourite for the win.

The stars have alligned for Wiggins this year, with a route that suits him, a team that backs him (more or less), and a season of total dominance in stage races. When he wins, expect the peloton to mimic his success by growing sideburns and being grumpy.

Sagan has become quite the hero, and his ability to win on any terrain should pay dividends at the Tour. Will we see him outsprinting a Cavendish who's visibly slower than previous years, or attacking Gilbert when things get tough? Don't let us down, Peter.

If they were powered by the schadenfreude of the fans, they'd be the fastest team on Earth. But the opposite is true: they've imploded in so many ways it's hard to even keep track of. This is going to be a comedy show unless Fabian Cancellara can save their season.