Q & A on what you need to know to become a real tour expert

Q: Why will Mark Cavendish never win the Tour de France ?

Because the Briton, arguably the best sprinter in the world, is not a good climber. Since 1913, the final standings of the Tour have been based on the overall time clocked by each rider, adding the time of each stage.

Time gaps in mountain stages are far bigger than in flat stages, giving climbers a huge advantage over sprinters. On the other hand, climbers, who are usually diminutive and light, often lose precious time in individual time trials, which favour powerful riders.