Tour de France 2018 a tough challenge

Possible eight sprint chances for Cavendish

The route for the 2018 Tour de France has been announced in Paris.

There are eight stages which could end in a sprint finish including the final stage in Paris.

Isle of Man sprint king Mark Cavendish is currently second on the all-time stage winners list on with 30 victories, four behind Eddie Merckx.

The Manx Missile missed out on this year's event after breaking his shoulder following a collision with the barriers at the finish of stage four.

World Champion Peter Sagan was disqualified from the race for causing the crash.

The tough route includes the infamous climbs of Alpe d'Huez and the Col du Tourmalet as well as the Paris-Roubaix cobbles.