Sam Bennett starts his debut Tour de France this Saturday in Utrecht. His Bora Argon 18 team have put their faith in the Irishman and will chase stage wins. He's already won three races this year and been close to many more. He and Dan Martin, already a Tour stage winner, are Ireland's best hope of a win, with Nicolas Roche set for team duties with Team Sky.
By Brian Canty
The Tour de France starts this Saturday with three Irish riders in the field.
Dan Martin is already a stage winner, of course, having won into Bagneres de Bigorre two years ago while Sam Bennett is in his debut Tour and could contend on the flattish days.
Nicolas Roche is unlikely to be given any latitude to try and chase stage wins as his mandate will be to work for team leader Chris Froome.
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But here are five days where we think you should maybe consider pulling a sicky in work.
Sunday July 5th, Stage 2, Utrecht to Zeeland, 166km
Sam Bennett and his Bora-Argon 18 team will be licking their lips at this one: a pan-flat stage that is most likely going to be a bunch sprint.
Part of the course is the same as that used for the World Ports Classic recently, a race Bennett raced towards the end of last month.
There will be echelons and splits here but if his teammates can get him to the line in reasonable shape it might be Bennett's best chance of a stage win.
Monday July 6th, Stage 3, Antwerp to Huy, 154km
This is a day where, potentially, Dan Martin can win and could even take the yellow jersey or go close to it.
The time he's going to lose to the fastest men on Saturday's individual time-trial may be less than the time he'll gain on the final ramp up to the finish at Huy here.
It's a finishing circuit the Cannondale-Garmin man knows all too well, having gone agonisingly close to winning Fleche-Wallone on it a few times.
He has the experience. All he needs now are legs and some luck.
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Wednesday July 8th, stage 5, Arras to Amiens, 189km
A nailed-on cert for a bunch gallop and if Bennett has recovered from the previous day on the cobbles he could well be in contention here.
He'll also be aware of the impending Pyrenees but if he's up to speed and showing no ill effects of the sickness that's hampered his no reparation he should push some of the more established fast men.
Stage 14, Saturday July 18, Rodez to Mende, 178km
It's an up and down day all day today with two category two climbs and two category four ramps to negotiate. A picnic for Dan Martin, some might say.
The final kick up to the finish in Mende is ugly, however, and has an average gradient of over 10 per cent for three kilometres.
It reaches a maximum gradient of 13 per cent and if Martin has his climbing kegs he'll love the look of this.
Thursday July 23, Stage 18, Gap – Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne 185km
A lot will depend on where he sits overall but either way, the parcours looks perfect for Martin.
That means one thing; climbing, and lots of it.
There's a staggering seven climbs today; four category threes, two category twos and a HC but what makes it so good for Martin is the 3.2-kilometre ramp at 8 per cent average with 10km to go.
If he's on the money that day you can expect him to give it a really go ratttle.
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