With only a couple days that have uphill finishes, no one will be able to win the Tour this early. But with a difficult stage that covers some cobble sectors featured in Paris-Roubaix as well as a long hilly team time trial, there will be people that lose their chance to finish with the maillot jaune.

Stage 1 is a standard time trial, not considered a prologue since it’s over 8 km. There are a good number of turns over the 13 km route that goes through the Dutch city Utrecht, but none sharp enough to cause many problems. Riders will be taking risks to be able to wear the yellow jersey for the 2nd stage, especially those from the Netherlands, such as Tom Dumoulin and newly-crowned national time trial champion Wilco Kelderman.

Tom Dumoulin – Giant-Alpecin Adriano Malori – Movistar Tony Martin – Etixx-Quick Step Rohan Dennis – BMC Fabian Cancellara – Trek

Leaving Utrecht towards Rotterdam, Stage 2 brings the riders onto the coast to finish on the Zeeland Delta. Although they won’t ever be more than 10 meters above sea level, the teams of the top contenders for both GC and sprints will need to stay at the front of the peloton because of almost guaranteed echelons. Not coincidentally, the sprinters likely to win will have strong lead-outs to keep them in the front of the race.

Andre Greipel – Lotto Soudal Alexander Kristoff – Katusha Mark Cavendish – Etixx-Quick Step Peter Sagan – Tinkoff-Saxo Sam Bennett – Bora-Argon 18

After crossing the border into Belgium, the teams will start this year’s 2nd edition of La Fleche Wallonne for Stage 3. 32 km after climbing the Cote de Bohissau, the course takes a left turn onto the Cote d’Ereffe and does an almost exact replica of the Ardennes Classic’s 2015 route, going up the Cote de Cherave before the finish at the top of the Mur de Huy.

Dan Martin – Cannondale-Garmin Alejandro Valverde – Movistar Rui Costa – Lampre-Merida Simon Gerrans – Orica GreenEDGE Joaquim Rodriguez – Katusha

The stage likely to shake up the standings the most before the 1st rest day is stage 4. Featuring 7 sects of cobblestones, including 3 used in Paris-Roubaix (all going the opposite direction from Roubaix: de Quérénaing à Verchain-Maugré (5th from the finish of the stage), Saint-Python (3rd), and de Fontaine-au-Tertre à Quiévy (2nd)), the overall contenders will likely just try to survive. However, it’s always possible that a rider could repeat Vincenzo Nibali’s performance on the pavé last year and give themselves a big lead over their GC peers. If someone can steal the yellow jersey here, there’s a good chance they will hold it through the first rest day.

Zdenek Stybar – Etixx-Quick Step John Degenkolb – Giant-Alpecin Peter Sagan – Tinkoff-Saxo Fabian Cancellara – Trek Sep Vanmarcke – LottoNL-Jumbo

Now permanently in France, stage 5 has a standard sprint profile. There are 2 90° turns going into the arrival town of Amiens, so good positioning will be necessary for those wanting to win here.

Mark Cavendish – Etixx-Quick Step Alexander Kristoff – Katusha Peter Sagan – Tinkoff-Saxo Michael Matthews – Orica GreenEdge John Degenkolb – Giant-Alpecin

Another day with expected high winds, stage 6 goes along the Normandy coastline doing 3 small climbs (Cote de Dieppe, Cote de Pourville-sur-Mer, Cote du Tilleul) before getting into Le Havre for an uphill sprint.

Alexander Kristoff – Katusha Peter Sagan – Tinkoff-Saxo John Degenkolb – Giant-Alpecin Bryan Coquard – Europcar Mark Cavendish – Etixx-Quick Step

Making its way into Brittany, Stage 7 finishes in the town of Fougeres with a rising sprint. Although the lone categorized climb comes early (Cote de Canapville), the race will be on rolling hills most of the day.

Mark Cavendish – Etixx-Quick Step Alexander Kristoff – Katusha Michael Matthews – Orica GreenEDGE Peter Sagan – Tinkoff-Saxo Arnaud Demare – FDJ

The second day that could show some gaps in the GC, Mur-de-Bretagne is the site of Stage 8‘s finish. After ascending the Col du Mont Bel-Air earlier in the day, The racers will ride around the city, then make a right turn up the finishing climb. This will be the last chance for riders looking to do well in the overall without having much support from their team to gain time before the TTT.

Alejandro Valverde – Movistar Tim Wellens – Lotto Soudal Joaquim Rodriguez – Katusha Vincenzo Nibali – Astana Dan Martin – Cannondale-Garmin

The final day before the team get to rest for the first time since the Tour started, a team time trial will take place over the hills on the 28km course from Vannes to Plumelec. Stage 9 will finish on a climb featured in the GP de Plumelec-Morbihan, the Cote de Cadoudal. The teams with GC contenders will try to get their leaders in a good position for the Pyrenees after the rest day.

Movistar Sky IAM Cycling Astana Tinkoff-Saxo