Tour de France preview, part 1: Who to support?

The 2010 edition of the Tour de France starts in Rotterdam on Saturday and concludes 22 days later, as is now traditional, on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

In the same way the World Cup is the only major football event some fans follow, for many followers of cycling the Tour de France is the sole focus of their interest in the sport. If you’re one such person – or if you’re a more serious fan and just want a laugh – the flow chart below (which I found reblogged by several people on Tumblr) may help you decide who to follow in terms of the general classification which determines the overall race winner, signified by the famous maillot jaune (yellow jersey).

Who to support in the Tour de France

Watch out for more previews, including my view on this year’s key stages and a more serious look at the leading contenders for the yellow, green (sprinters’) and polka dot (climbers’) jerseys over the next three days, and keep reading here for regular race analysis as the Tour progresses during the next three-plus weeks.

For full coverage of the Tour de France, visit either the official website or alternatively steephill.tv as your one-stop shop for race reports, photos and videos.

Most importantly of all, enjoy the racing. There are few spectacles in sport as wonderful as watching the peloton flying through the French countryside on a sunny July afternoon!