Organisers Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) said the route will contain fewer climbs than in recent editions of the three week Grand Tour, but the general classification contenders will be forced to battle on steeper gradients as they seek the yellow jersey.

The Vosges, Jura, Pyrenees, Central Massif and Alps mountain ranges will all welcome action during the duration of the event, with all five included for the first time since 1992.

Racing will begin on July 1 in Düsseldorf, marking the first time the Grand Depart has taken place in Germany for 30 years.

A 13 kilometre individual time trial will take place in the city, with the newly crowned world champion Tony Martin able to show off his rainbow stripes in front of a home crowd.

A second time trial will act as the penultimate stage of the race, with a 23km route due to include a visit to Marseille's Vélodrome stadium on July 22.

While the stage could prove key to the general classification, summit finishes at La Planche des Belles Filles, Peyragudes and the Col d'Izoard are expected to help shape the overall standings.

The latter will be the final mountain stage of the race, which features several new climbs.

Sprinters could potentially have nine opportunities to secure stage victories in 2017, representing an increase on previous years.

Britain’s Chris Froome will aim to win the race for the third consecutive year and secure his fourth triumph in total.

Despite suggestions the women’s race La Course could be expanded from a one day affair, the event has not seen an increase in racing days.

The race, which was introduced in 2014, has instead been moved from the finishing circuit on the Champs-Élysées in Paris and will instead see a peloton tackle a 66km route which will finish on the Col d’Izoard in the French Alps.

The race will conclude on July 23.