Bardet: The 2016 Tour de France is good for me

As one of France's leading Grand Tour contenders, the pressure will once again be on Romain Bardet at next year's Tour de France. The route of the 2016 Tour de France might not immediately jump out as one that would suit Bardet but the Frenchman had a smile on his face after it was revealed in Tuesday's ceremony in Paris. The course, which sees the mountains tackled early in the first week, should play into his hands.

Born in Ireland to a cycling family and later moved to the Isle of Man, so there was no surprise when I got into the sport. Studied sports journalism at university before going on to do a Masters in sports broadcast. After university I spent three months interning at Eurosport, where I covered the Tour de France. In 2012 I started at Procycling Magazine, before becoming the deputy editor of Procycling Week. I then joined Cyclingnews, in December 2013.