Tour de France 2017: TV Schedule, Live Stream and Full Stage Info

The 2017 Tour de France will kick off on Saturday in Dusseldorf, Germany, as the peloton will battle it out for the yellow jersey in one of the most unusual grand tours in a long time.

This year's Tour will be an interesting test for the top contenders, who have gotten used to plenty of lengthy climbing over the years.

For the full schedule and stage info, visit Cyclingnews. Eurosport and ITV will carry every stage for UK viewers, with Nigel Wynn of Cycling Weekly detailing the full broadcast schedule. American viewers will be able to follow the race via NBC Sports. For cable alternatives, visit Cut Cable Today.

Fans will undoubtedly look forward to the stages finishing on the flanks of La Planche des Belles Filles and the new climb Col d'Izoard, but compared to previous years and the Tour's Italian cousin, this year's race is low on iconic climbs and lengthy ascents.

Rather, the organisers appear to hope the spread of major climbs combined with more open stages designed around attacking cycling will give the riders a new challenge. Perhaps they've been inspired by the 2014 edition, which saw plenty of top riders crash out early and shook up the peloton.

Per La Flamme Rouge, the potential is there for similar madness in the first week:

With two time trials, the pure climbers will have to use every opportunity they can to create separation. La Planche des Belles Filles will come early―Stage 5―and the infamous Grand Colombier will be on the schedule when the riders pass through the Jura Mountains.

In the Alps, the Galilbier could decide this year's Tour, and the Col d'Izoard will present the riders with an unknown challenge. Unlike previous years, there will be no heavy climbing in the penultimate stage; instead, a time trial in Marseille will shake up the top 10 one last time.

While there aren't many marathon climbs in this year's race, event organisers have picked out a handful of incredibly steep, shorter climbs suited to explosive riders. Have a look at the absurd gradient of the Mur de Peguere:

The unconventional nature of this year's Tour could prove a blessing, as the race has perhaps grown stale in the last few years. Team Sky have been untouchable, and while Chris Froome's form entering the race appears spotty, he's once again the clear favourite for the yellow jersey.

The shorter, steeper climbs favour Movistar's Nairo Quintana, but he too hasn't been great in 2017 and regressed as the Giro went along.

BMC's Richie Porte impressed in the Tour de Romandie, and he's being backed for success by a lot of pundits. BBC 5 Live Sport's Michael Hutchinson explained why:

The biggest star should be Peter Sagan of BORA-Hansgrohe, who has dominated the battle for the green jersey for years and will tackle a course that appears tailor-made for the Slovak to show his many talents.

Last year, he won three stages, but in 2017, Sagan should like his chances of grabbing even more top spots. If he wins another points classification, he will tie Eric Zabel for the record of six green jerseys.