Link a rider to the profile of stage 14? Thomas De Gendt! But he rode in front for nearly 200 kilometres yesterday. The first 44 kilometres are hilly, then there is a relatively flat part and the last 30 kilometres guarantee a tough finale.

“There are six or seven Tour stages in which escapees have a chance, and today is even a bigger chance than yesterday," he said. "But it won’t be easy for me after a breakaway of 200 kilometres. I have to be realistic, we’re at the Tour de France, not the Quatre Jours de Dunkerque. My legs will hurt the first hour, but you never know…

"There are still 15 teams that haven’t won a stage yet, so I expect many riders will want to get in the break of the day. I think a big group will get away in several phases. Typical names: Fédrigo, Chavanel, Voeckler and Bakelants.”