Stage set for a thriller

After losing to Marcel Kittel in the opening stage of last year's race Mark Cavendish will want to exact revenge on his sprint rival and take the leader's yellow jersey in his mother's home town of Harrogate.

Stage one: Leeds - Harrogate

After losing to Marcel Kittel in the opening stage of last year's race Mark Cavendish will want to exact revenge on his sprint rival and take the leader's yellow jersey in his mother's home town of Harrogate.

Stage two: York - Sheffield

With short climbs, riders may think they are riding the Belgian classic Liège-Bastogne-Liège, though stage two's last 4km in Yorkshire are flat. One for Simon Gerrans, Peter Sagan or John Degenklob.

Stage three: Cambridge - London

Another flat stage, and one for the sprint teams. Mark Cavendish will face a stiff test from Germans Marcel Kittel and André Greipel while Arnaud Démare will hope for a repeat of his RideLondon-Surrey Classic heroics from 2013.

Stage four: Le Touquet-Paris-Plage - Lille

With the race arriving in France, the hosts could be looking for their first win in Lille. Another flat finish is expected to favour the sprinters.

Stage five: Ypres - Arenberg Porte du Hainaut

When the Tour last visited the cobbles in 2010 carnage ensued with riders crashing. General classification teams will be desperate to keep their men upright while Fabian Cancellara and Niki Terpstra will be looking forward to the 15.4km of bone-rattling cobbles.

Stage six: Arras - Reims

The last time a stage finished in Reims in 2010, Italy's Alessandro Petacchi (40) prevailed en route to winning the points classification. This year he will be hoping to play a role in setting up Mark Cavendish.

Stage seven: Epernay - Nancy

Despite its flat appearance, the second-longest stage of the race will suit the puncheurs. With two category four climbs at the end of the stage don't be surprised to find Peter Sagan's team at the front, with the Slovakian waiting to launch himself for the line.

Stage eight: Tomblaine - Gérardmer La Mauselaine, 161km

With three climbs placed at the end of the stage we can expect fireworks. The second Saturday of the last two editions of the Tour have seen Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome, respectively, take the overall lead, and Team Sky could use stage eight as their springboard.

Stage nine: Gérardmer - Mulhouse

Six classified climbs feature, including the first category one ascent of the Tour, and following the previous day's stage where general classification riders may have tested each other.

Stage 10: Mulhouse - La Planche des Belles Filles

The general classification can expect a shake-up here as the climbers are given their first chance to test themselves in the mountains. Chris Froome and Alberto Contador will be watching each other on the slopes of the Col des Chevrière and the final drag up La Planche des Belles Filles.

Stage 11: Besançon - Oyonnax, 187.5km

Today's stage has Peter Sagan and his team written all over it. The Italian team will be hoping to produce a repeat of last year's stage from Montpellier to Albi when they controlled the race.

Stage 12: Bourg-en-Bresse - Saint-Etienne

Despite its four categorised climbs, the ride into Saint-Etienne is expected to end in a bunch sprint and Omega Phrama-Quick-Step, Giant-Shimano, Lotto-Belisol will all be working hard to control the race. Mark Cavendish, Marcel Kittel and André Greipel are favourites.

Stage 13: Saint-Etienne - Chamrousse

The first mountaintop finish this year concludes on the hors catégorie Chamrousse, but not before the peloton has tackled the relatively unknown Col de Palaquit.

Stage 14: Grenoble - Risoul, 177km

Featuring three tough climbs - including the highest point in this year's race, the second day in the Alps can expect plenty of action.

Stage 15: Tallard - Nîmes

Following two tough mountain stages the focus should switch back to the sprinters. Teams will be on high alert for crosswinds.

Stage 16: Carcassonne - Bagnères-de-Luchon

The longest stage will see the tough Port de Balès climb take centre stage as the Tour enters the Pyrenees. With a gradient of 10.2% in places, Port de Balès will offer climbers an opportunity to attack before a long, sweeping descent.

Stage 17: Saint-Gaurdens - Pla d'Adet

The penultimate day in the mountains may be short, but it packs a punch. Three category one climbs precede the hors catégorie ascent. We expect a tough day of racing.

Stage 18: Pau - Hautacam

The Col du Tourmalet, the most used mountain in the history of the Tour, having first appeared in 1910, may carry a prize of à5000 for the first rider to crest the highest point in the Pyrenees, but the general classification contenders will be focused on the summit finish of the Hautacam, which has some steep sections. Expect plenty of action.

Stage 19: Maubourguet - Bergerac

Friday's transition stage will be the last chance for many teams to win a stage, though the honours will probably go to a sprinter.

Stage 20: Bergerac - Périgueux

Tony Martin and Fabian Cancellara will be favourites ahead of the only "race of truth" at this year's Tour, but with a lumpy course a few surprises could be on the cards. Chris Froome, also, will be looking to post a good time and may need to if he is trailing.

Stage 21: Evry - Champs-Elysées

After ending Mark Cavendish's incredible run on the Champs-Elysées 12 months ago, Marcel Kittel will be hoping to make it two in a row in the final stage.