Porto-Vecchio - Bastia
The 100th Tour de France starts in Corsica, the only region of metropolitan France which the tour has not visited till now. This is also only the third time since 1967 (when the first Prologue was ridden) when the tour has started in traditional riding fashion. However in 2008 and 2011 the finish was uphill this time the whole 212km long stage is flat with no categorised climbs as it stretchs the whole of Corsica's Eastern coast from Porto-Vecchio in the south to Bastia in the north. As it is flat this stage fancies the sprinters so my bet is for Omega-Pharma Quick-Step man Mark Cavendish to take the malliot jaune.
Stage 2
Bastia-Ajaccio
The second stage of this year's tour de France is a much harder challenge than the opening act of le tour. Stage 2 starts in Bastia and takes a 154km long journey to finish in Ajaccio. The route has two climbs with the tallest being the Col du Vizzavona at 1163m it is the last climb of the day 58km from the finish line. I can't see sprinters like Cav staying in the peloton so it could be a day for a breakaway but my guess is for 2012 Green jersey Peter Sagan to win stage 2 and probably to go in Yellow.
Stage 3
Ajaccio-Calvi
The last day on Corsica for the riders is a 145km ride from Ajaccio to Calvi, with two categorised climbs both at 430m tall. The latter of the climbs is at 8.1% only 12km from the finish so a difficult climb for the non-climbers. Stage 3 is a day when start to see some of the main contenders of this year's Tour. My pick is for another Cannondale win in the form of Peter Sagan.
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