Team profile: Garmin
Nationality: American
Track record: Frequent top 10 finishers over the last few years, this time around they will be hoping to target the top three through outstanding American rider Andrew Talansky.
Leader: Andrew Talansky carries most hopes this year. The 25-year-old American's victory in the recent Critérium du Dauphiné proves he is definitely a match for reigning Tour champion Chris Froome and Alberto Contador. The last two Tour winners, Froome and Bradley Wiggins, both won the Criterium before going on to win the Tour; what odds a hat-trick?
Changes since 2013: No David Millar. Controversially, the veteran Scottish rider was withdrawn from the team just days before the start of what would have been his 13th and final Tour because of doubts over his fitness. But the cycling team's loss is our team's gain, as he will be part of ITV's coverage.
Target: So far, the team's best performance is fourth place (Christian Vande Velde in 2008 and Bradley Wiggins in 2009). This time around Talansky will be hoping to break into the top three.
Final nine: Andrew Talansky (USA), Tom-Jelte Slagter (Netherlands), Alex Howes (USA), Ben King (USA), Sebastian Langeveld (Netherlands), Ramunas Navardauskas (Lithuania), Johan Vansummeren (Belgium), Janier Acevedo (Colombia) and Jack Bauer (New Zealand).