The Tour de France is for many the most special race in cycling. Everyone would love to win it, but only a select few ever will. However, for every one chance to take a career-defining overall victory, there are 21 chances to take a career-defining stage win – and that particular tombola is open to all comers.
In theory, anyone can win a Tour stage and the plaudits are occasionally taken by little known riders whose job was getting sponsor airtime in a break that managed to go all the way to the finish.
