The mountains stand tall but the devil is in the detail of the 2020 Tour de France so we look at five key stages that could shape the race overall.

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Nice

Right from the gun the organizers throw the racing equivalent of a curve ball with a technical mountain stages in and around Nice. It is a place so many local and foreigners know well because they make the area their base but holds so much uncertainty. You can expect in teams with multiple leaders, like Ineos and Jumbo-Visma, riders will already attack to establish the team hierarchy with early race gains.

Orcieres-Merlette

This is going to be an aggressive Tour de France which could suit defending champion Egan Bernal (Ineos). If he didn't establish his grip in Team Ineos and the race already in Nice, then he could do so on this 10km Alpine climb. As a mountain stage goes, it is nothing out of the ordinary, but since it is on day four, it marks a clear – and early – turning point in the race.

Mont Aigoual

We are still in the first week, but the sixth stage takes us through the Massif Central and offers a chance for the wind two sweep away several overall contenders. Think back to stage 10 to Albi last year, when cross-winds ravaged the peloton and cost some riders irrecoverable minutes. The stage then ends on the Gard département's highest mountain.

An Island paradise?

A ride along the coast crossing to and from islands seems like a perfect way to spend the day. However the 10th stage to Île de Ré could turn disastrous given it is the day after the rest day when riders may or may not have spent their day wisely and with likely winds off the Atlantic. If one takes it for granted and assumes sprint teams will control the day, he could find himself pushed out the back if echelons form and lose minutes.

La Planche

Speaking of time, the only individual test in the 2020 edition comes on the penultimate day and on a famous climb: La Planche des Belles Filles. This is where Dylan Tens (Bahrain-McLaren) won on the gravel in 2019. For 2020, the organizer takes the riders over 36km and climbing the last 6km to 1038 meters. This is the land of Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ), but everyone knows that this stage will impact the race overall. Bernal, after landing in Europe from Colombia, already began working with his trainer on simulated efforts to understand what gears he will use and his approach to the final 2020 Tour test.