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In Pictures: Tour de France contenders

A look at the leading favourites for the 100th edition of the world’s greatest cycling race.

The itinerary of the 2013 Tour de France cycling race is presented at a news conference in Paris
The 100th edition of the greatest cycling race is shaping up to be a classic this year. Let(***)s take a look at the leading contenders.
Published On 26 Jun 2013
Chris Froome Photo Shoot
It(***)s hard to look past Team Sky(***)s Chris Froome who is the overwhelming favourite, particularly in the absence of last year’s winner Bradley Wiggins.
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96th Giro d''Italia cycling race
The 28-year-old Kenyan-born Brit will have strong team support throughout, particularly in the mountains where the likes of teammates Richie Porte, Michael Rogers and Rigoberto Uran will be a huge boost.
Cycling Criterium du Dauphine
If that wasn’t enough, Froome has has won four of the five stage races (Oman, Romandie, Criterium International, Criterium du Dauphine) he entered this year.
CYCLING-FRA-PARIS-NICE
Don’t discount Froome’s teammate Richie Porte. He showed by winning the Paris-Nice this season that he is a decent stage racer. However, he is Froome’s lieutenant which leaves little room for personal ambition.
CYCLING-FRA-DAUPHINE
With two yellow jerseys to his name as well as titles from the Tour of Spain and Giro d’Italia, Alberto Contador is Froome’s major threat. 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. 
2013 Giro d''Italia - Stage Two
Keep an eye out for BMC’s Cadel Evans, winner of the Tour in 2011. He is in good form this season, finishing third overall in the Giro after a poor start to the season. But at 36 does he have the stamina to perform well in two grand tours in the same year?
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Tour de Suisse - ninth stage
Tejay van Garderen is another rider to watch. A decent time trialist and good climber he finished fifth in last year’s Tour. However, he is not BMC’s leader and will take up a support role for Evans.
Liege Bastogne Liege cycling race
Joaquim Rodriguez, left, underlined his credentials with a runner-up finish at the 2012 Giro d’Italia and twice finishing third in the Tour of Spain. The downside is he’s generally considered more suited for one-week stage and one-day races. How will he hack the pace in the three-week Tour?
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Finally, don’t discount Canada’s Ryder Hesjedal, riding for Garmin-Sharp. His best finish in the Tour was 6th in 2010. He’s a strong climber and has a winning mentality after triumphing in the Giro last year. However, he withdrew from this year’s edition with illness and crashed heavily during the Tour of Switzerland.