The Grand Depart for the 2018 Tour de France takes place one week later than usual due to the crucial FIFA World Cup matches that take place at the beginning of July.
Although the World Cup finals overlap with stage 9 of the Tour de France, sports fans won't have to worry about missing a moment of either event, as organisers ASO have arranged for the finishes of the stages 1, 8 and 9 - which fall on the same day as the first World Cup quarter-final match, third place play-off and final, respectively, to end earlier than normal to keep fans tuned in.
The Vendée region hosts the Grand Depart, with two flat road stages suited to the sprinters before the 35.5km team time trial in Cholet. Expect a battle royale for the first maillot jaune between the main sprinters.
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Stage 3's team time trial will be a critical test for the teams of the overall contenders, and anyone who wants to unseat Chris Froome (should he be allowed to race) will have to put time into Team Sky - a difficult proposition.
The next critical stage is the 156.5km cobbled stage from Arras to the Roubaix velodrome on July 15: the stage winner will be throwing up his arms in victory just before the kick-off for the World Cup finale. Stock up on provisions - it's going to be a big day in front of the television!
Three mountain stages in the Alps come in the week following the first rest day, and the grande finale in the Pyrenees comes in the final week, with three mountain stages and an individual time trial on the penultimate stage before the parade into Paris.
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