Team Picnic PostNL Raisin

The first Grand Tour of the year is here! A start on Bulgarian soil will then see the peloton tackle snow-capped mountain passes, sinuous descents, fast sprint finishes and all-out time trials.

Into its second year on the calendar, last season ended in a bigger bunch sprint finish but the open and exposed roads throughout the day could also play havoc if the wind blows.

One of cycling's quirks, we're all set for the five days of racing at the "4 Jours de Dunkerque" - a race where we can find plenty of short and punchy hills and fast finishes during the week.

Traditionally a race for the sprinters, inclement weather conditions can make for a blustery day out where the baroudeurs will be looking to upset the applecart and hold off the bunch.

A varied parcours throughout the week should see the sprinters, puncheurs and climbing specialists all to the fore as the peloton battles on and in the valleys below some famous climbs.