A look at the leading favourites for the 100th edition of the world’s greatest cycling race.
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 201326 Jun 2013
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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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.
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.
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.
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.
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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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.
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?
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.