Cycling: Tour de France contenders

Penpix of Tour de France contenders ahead of this year’s 100th edition to be held June 29 to July 1:

Chris Froome (GBR/SKY)

A year after a runner-up place to teammate and compatriot Bradley Wiggins, Froome has the leadership of Team Sky and it is no surprise. The Kenyan-born Briton is arguably a stronger climber than Wiggins and is a strong time triallist, having won Olympic silver behind Wiggins in the event at the London Games in 2012. Froome’s biggest challenge could be handling the psychological burden of leading a team for the first time in the world’s most prestigious bike race although the 28-year-old will have strong team support throughout, particularly in the mountains where the talents and experience of the likes of Richie Porte, Michael Rogers and Rigoberto Uran will be a huge boost.

Alberto Contador (ESP/SAX)

With two yellow jerseys to his name as well as titles from the Tour of Spain (2008, 2012) and Giro d’Italia (2008), Contador has been widely regarded as the strongest stage racer of his generation. However since a positive test for clenbuterol led to a ban and the loss of titles from the Tour de France (2010) and Giro (2011), the Spaniard has been less dominant. Last year he missed the Tour because his ban did not finish until August 5 and this season he has yet to win a stage race having come runner-up to Froome in the Tour of Oman and finished third at Tirreno-Adriatico. The Tour de France and the lure of a third yellow jersey should bring out the best in a rider who in the past has seen off challenges from the likes of Lance Armstrong, Bradley Wiggins, Cadel Evans and Andy Schleck.

Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC)

If Evans is to ever win a second yellow jersey, this year could be his best shot. With a number of potential contenders missing, such as Bradley Wiggins and Vincenzo Nibali, and Andy Schleck reportedly lacking race form, the Australian could play off the anticipated rivalry between Froome and Contador to slip into victory contention. A strong climber and, on his day, an equally strong time triallist, Evans has what it takes to win another Tour, at least on paper. Last year he suffered with a viral infection, which was only revealed after the race, and was overshadowed by the strong climbing performances of BMC teammate Tejay Van Garderen, who could be a crucial help in the mountains again. If Evans can avoid a repeat of that setback and avoid crashes and a poor performance by his team on the team time trial on stage four it will give the 36-year-old Aussie the belief he will need for the final two, crucial weeks.

Joaquim Rodriguez (ESP/KAT)

Generally considered more suited to one-week stage and one-day races, Rodriguez has underlined his credentials for a Grand Tour triumph by finishing runner-up in the 2012 Giro d’Italia and finishing third twice in the Tour of Spain, in 2010 and 2012. But despite being a strong climber, questions remain over Rodriguez’s ability to compete with the best in the long time trials. And he will be racing the Tour de France — arguably not the most difficult but the most demanding of the three Grand Tours — for only the second time, having won the stage to Mende and finished a commendable seventh overall on his debut in 2010. Having finished runner-up, to Ireland’s Dan Martin, on the Liege-Bastogne-Liege one-day classic earlier this season, Rodriguez has been busy training and preparing for the Tour. “I don’t have many years left, so it’s the right time to give it all for the Tour de France,” he said.