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With more time trials, less climbing, and the most northerly Grand Départ in Edinburgh, the first impression is that ASO is definitely looking for something different from this edition of the Tour de France . By the time the peloton rolls into Paris, I’m not sure they'll get it in terms of who stands on the top step of the podium, but the suspense, entertainment, and tactical choices will be different from what we’ve seen lately. A traditional Tour this is not.

There are elements to it which are going to complicate how riders and teams deal with the challenges the route is going to throw at them along the way.

Philippa York is a long-standing Cyclingnews contributor, providing expert racing analysis.…