Fifteen Dutch cyclists are taking part in this year’s Tour de France race, which starts on Saturday on the island Mont-Saint-Michel.

Last year, when the Tour kicked off in Utrecht, there were 20 Dutch riders in the starting line-up.

Five Dutch riders are with the Giant-Alpecin team including Tom Dumoulin who led this year’s Giro d’Italia for several stages before pulling out. Dumoulin, who has recently taken the Dutch time trial title, is seen as one of the favourites in the race’s stages against the clock.

According to Cycling Weekly, both he and the team have stressed that he won’t be going for the title, but focusing on stage wins ahead of the Olympic Games.

The only Dutch team in the event, LottoNL-Jumbo, has four Dutch riders among its nine cyclists.