The 2017 race starts on July 1 (northern hemisphere time). 

The race has been held annually since its first edition in 1903 except when it was stopped for the two World Wars.

The Tour is a UCI World Tour event, with the teams that compete in the race mostly UCI WorldTeams, with the exception of the teams that the organizers invite.

While the route changes each year, the format of the race stays the same with the appearance of time trials, the passage through the mountain chains of the Pyrenees and the Alps, and the finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The modern editions of the Tour de France consist of 21 day-long segments (stages) over a 23-day period and cover around 3,500 kilometres. The race alternates between clockwise and counterclockwise circuits of France.

Tactics change from team-to-team as some battle for the yellow jersey, others target stage wins while some simply seek publicity.

Teams without any real general classification hopes as well as French outfits (AG2R La Mondiale, Cofidis, FDJ and Fortuneo-Vital Concept) are often keen to get riders in a breakaway – a group who attack off the front of the peloton.

This gives them television time, and therefore good publicity for the team sponsors.

Breakaways are also useful for teams with yellow jersey hopefuls on mountain stages. Riders are ‘sent up the road’ so when their team leaders catch them, they can assist with the climb. Conversely, it is not odd to see general classification hopefuls attack off the front as well as they look to gain time on their rivals.

Sometimes breakaways do stay clear, but it is a long, hard day in the saddle for those who try.

Teams who have sprinters naturally target wins on flat stages. When the inevitable breakaways occur, they will put riders on the front of the peloton to lead the chase.

Inside the final kilometres teams will then form what is known as a ‘sprint train’. Basically this is a line of riders who work hard to keep the pace on, each man taking a turn leading the line of riders remaining from his team before peeling off.

The goal is to get the main sprinter as close to the finish line as possible, guide him through the pack, and give him a launching pad for his final effort.

Teams with realistic yellow jersey aspirants need to work hard together. Men are sent to the front to do the chasing and mark rivals while their team leader is protected further back in the peloton. While only one man can hold the yellow jersey, it is very prestigious for the team as a whole and they will work hard to keep it.

The yellow jersey (maillot jaune)

This is awarded after each stage to the man who leads the general classification – ie who has the lowest cumulative time overall. The man who holds it after stage 21 will be declared the winner of this year’s Tour de France. In 2016, it was Chris Froome who took the honours. Australia’s Cadel Evans won the yellow jersey in 2011, while fellow Aussies Phill Anderson (1981,82), Stuart O’Grady (1998,2001), Brad McGee (2003), Robbie McEwen (2004), Simon Gerrans (2013) and Rohan Dennis (2015) have worn the maillot jaune in the past.

The green jersey (maillot vert)

This is awarded to the points classification leader after each stage. While it is designed for sprinters, it is not always the quickest man who wins it as the competition also rewards consistency. Last year Peter Sagan claimed the overall green jersey for the fifth year in succession, picking up three stage wins to aid his cause. Points are awarded at both intermediate sprint points located throughout stages as well as those who are the best placed riders each day. Different stages are worth different points - those classified as flat offering the most to the victor (50) while time trials and mountain stages have 20 up for grabs. Australia’s Robbie McEwen won the overall green jersey in 2006, 2004 and 2002 while Baden Cooke was the points classification winner in 2003.

The polka dot jersey (maillot a pois)

This is awarded to the rider who earns the most points at designated climbs – the harder the climb, the more points awarded. On top of that if the climb ends at the finish line of a stage and it is ranked as a category one of highest level (HC),  the victor is awarded double the usual amount of points. This jersey first appeared on the 1933 tour and is also known as the ‘king of the mountains’ title. Last year Poland’s Rafal Majka won the polka dot jersey. No Australia rider has claimed overall victory in this classification since it was introduced.

The white jersey (maillot blanc)

This is awarded after each stage to the best placed young rider in the general classification, that is the man with the lowest cumulative time. This year riders who were born after January 1, 1992 fall into this classification, which has been part of the Tour de France since 1975. Last year’s winner was Adam Yates, who also placed fourth in the general classification. Phil Anderson is the only Australia to have won the overall white jersey, snaring in 1982 when he ranked fifth in the general classification, 12 minutes and 16 seconds down on tour victor Bernard Hinault.

This year’s 104rd Tour de France features 21 stages and two rest days as the riders compete on the road of Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and France.

They are broken into four categories – flat stages (nine), time trials (two), medium mountain stages (five) and high mountain stages (five).

Climbs are broken into five categories based on their length and gradient – with four being the easiest and hors categorie (HC) the toughest.

This year the tour begins with a 14km time trial in Dusseldorf and while plenty of racing will follow, it could prove critical when it comes to deciding the overall winner of the tour.

This first time trial will see riders compete on a fast circuit, with specialists expected to average 55km/hr.

The second time trial comes on stage 20 , one day before the field heads to the tour’s finish line on the Champs-Elysees. It covers a longer 22.5km course and features a leg burning 1.2km climb of 9.5% gradient.

The flat stages are where to watch for the sprinters and as was the case last year, the first week of the tour offers plenty chances – stages two, three and four all expected to come down to a bunch sprint.

Stage six from Vesoul to Troyes is one of the longest of the tour at 216km, but it too has a flat profile, as does stage seven.

Following mountain days in the Alps, stages 10 and 11 offer more chances, but the final day battle of the Champs-Elysees in Paris for those sprinters who have survived should provide one of the most exciting days for the quick men.

It is the high mountain stages where the yellow jersey is most likely to be decided even though the 104th edition of the Tour de France is not the most mountainous in history.

Stage eight is where the climbers get their first chance, while the ninth stage (181.5km) is an even more tantalising prospect with three HC climbs on the way from Nantua to Chmabery.

Stage 12 will see the field spend the first of two days the Pyrenees, while the Alps are introduced on stage 17 – a day when the famed Col du Galibier features. It is a 17.7km climb at an average 6.95% gradient and at 2,642 metres, is the highest point of this year’s tour.

The last major battle in the mountains comes on stage 20 when, for the first time in the history of the tour, the stage will finish on top of the legendary Col d’Izoard pass.

Chris Froome (Great Britain): A three-time Tour de France winner – Froome can climb, he is a natural tactician, is strong in time trials and has a good team (Sky) around him. While he is not in the best form and yet to win a race in 2017, he can not be dismissed.

Nario Quintana (Columbia): He has twice finished second in the Tour de France (2013, 2015) ranked third last year and has previously worn the yellow jersey. Quintana is handy in time trials, has a good Movistar roster to support him and is brilliant in the mountains.

Alberto Contador (Spain): He is a two-time Tour de France winner (2007, 2009) and was named champion in 2010 as well before being stripped of that title due to a positive drug test. He is tactically cunning, aggressive and is at home in mountain stages. His form is hard to gauge, but as he did drop Froome on Alpe d'Huez earlier this year, he’s still a threat.

Richie Porte (Australia): While the Tasmania native does not have the experience of some of his general classification rivals, he does have talent. His Dauphine time trial performance was impressive and he has shown good touch in the mountains this year. Should get good support from Nicholas Roche and Greg Van Avermaet.

Dan Martin (Ireland): He improved from eighth on the final stage of this year’s Criterium du Dauphine to place third, leading to many pundits to label him a top-five Tour de France contender. Though he is not the best at time trials, he attacks with purpose.

Also watch for: Romain Bardet (France),  Thibaut Pinot (France), Esteban Chaves (Columbia), Simon Yates (Britain), Fabio Aru (Italy).

*These are the riders who were listed at time of publication

Richie Porte (Team BMC): A man who is expected to battle it out for this year’s yellow jersey. He is a strong climber, is savvy and cunning. His best overall in six previous appearances was his fifth placing last year.

Mark Renshaw (Team Dimension Data): Bathurst’s professional cycling star. If he starts this year it will be his ninth Tour de France. His job will be to help his team-mate Mark Cavendish in the sprint stages.

Jay McCarthy (Bora- Hansgrohe): A 24-year-old who will make his debut in a team which features defending green jersey holder Peter Sagan and 2016 mountains classification winner Rafal Majka. He placed third in this year’s Tour Down Under and previously earned a stage podium in the Giro d'Italia.

Adam Hansen (Lotto-Soudal): This year will mark his eighth Tour de France start. He is a man who sets up sprints, stamps out the tempo on the front of the peloton and likes to attack.

Damien Howson (Orica-Scott): After turning professional three years ago, Howson will make his Tour de France debut in 2017. The former under 23 world time trial champion will be a key support rider in mountain stages for team-mates Esteban Chaves and Simon Yates.

Luke Durbridge (Orica-Scott): A man who is nicknamed ‘turbo Durbo’, he is a former under 23 world time trial champion, so watch for him on the opening day of the tour in Dusseldorf, Germany. This will be his fourth Tour de France.

Mathew Hayman (Orica-Scott): Hayman will be riding in the Tour de France for the third time this year and will lead his team on the road. He is a respected domestique and will be working to help the team’s general classification hopefuls.

Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb): A man who will look to challenge for the green jersey after placing third in the 2016 points classification. He won the stage into Revel last year, combining both speed and tactics for victory. This will be his third start in the tour