Team profile: Europcar
Nationality: French
Track record: Nine stage victories and three secondary classification wins in their 14 Tours barely covers the impact Jean-Rene Bernaudeau's team has had on the race in its rollercoaster existence, with the glories of Francois Simon's Armstrong-upsetting three days in yellow in 2001 and Thomas Voeckler's heroic challenges countered by financial strife and team tensions.
Leader: Where there is Voeckler, there is hope. The French rider has had two 10 day stints in the yellow jersey over the years, in 2004 and 2011. In 2012 Voeckler became the second Europcar rider in three years, after Anthony Charteau in 2010, to win the King of the Mountains competition. But at 35, it is hard to see Voeckler mounting a challenge for overall victory.
Changes since 2013: The arrival of trio Bryan Coquard, Alexandre Pichot and Perrig Quemeneur ups the Gallic presence to eight, with Yukiya Arashiro now the team's only non-Frenchman.
Target: Victory bids may be beyond them, but Voeckler and Pierre Rolland will be out to spend some days in their respective yellow and poker-dot jerseys at the very least.
Full nine: Yukiya Arashiro (Japan), Bryan Coquard, Kevin Reza, Cyril Gautier, Pierre Rolland, Yohann Gene, Thomas Voeckler, Alexandre Pichot, Perrig Quemeneur (all France).