Who will win the green jersey at the 2021 Tour de France? We rate the contenders

But even if he wins another stage, it is unlikely that he will commit to trying to win the points jersey.

The Briton, however, has already written off his chances of winning green for the second time, saying that he hasn’t got the required fitness to do so, because the Tour was never a goal.

The same probably can’t be said for Tim Merlier of Alpecin-Fenix who will be targeting stage success and a possible tilt at the points jersey.

His team-mate Mathieu van der Poel is a curious figure, too.

Making his return at the Belgium Tour after a short suspension was Nacer Bouhanni, but the Arkéa-Samsic sprinter doesn’t have the form that points to green jersey success.

And, finally, last year’s Tour saw Cees Bol granted access into the club of B-list sprinters and he showed his class again in March by beating Bennett and Matthews in a stage of Paris-Nice.

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