Despite the official Tour de France route not being announced until Tuesday, many have already predicted what the route will be for the 2016 edition. The big news is that cobbles are out, but Mont Ventoux is back for the first time since 2013. Another key rumour is that the race, which starts in Mont Saint-Michel, will open with a road stage, giving a sprinter the chance to go into Yellow.

We also already know that stage two finishes in Cherbourg atop a short, steep climb, like the Mur de Huy used in the 2015 edition, and a new Yellow Jersey will likely be upon us. After that, official confirmation ends, but Tour organisers ASO clearly liked what happened in the 2015 Vuelta, and they too will take their race into the hilly nation of Andorra. Some stages in Switzerland have also been rumoured.