Froome’s top challengers will likely be two-time runner-up Nairo Quintana of Colombia and Alberto Contador, the Spaniard who has won the Tour twice but took his last victory in the Grande Boucle back in 2009.
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The 26-year-old Frenchman is considered his country’s leading hope to end their miserable 31-year yellow jersey drought. Whilst a question mark hovers over Geraint Thomas plans to act as Sky’s Plan “B” for the overall classification after a hard build-up to July, the Wirral’s Steve Cummings will be gunning for another breakaway win like the one he took in such superb style at Mende airfield in last year’s Tour.
Cyclings elite will be in full attendance as they battle it out to win the prestigious yellow jersey and take home the title of victor of the Tour de France, the world’s hardest road race.
There has been a state of emergency in place since 130 people lost their lives on November 13 a year ago, with a French football worldwide at the Stade de France among the targets.
“My teammates have adapted better to me and I to them”.
Froome will be hoping to win the 21 stage race for the third time in his career, with the second Grand Tour of the season set to make stops in Andorra and Switzerland, on its way to the final stage at the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
There is potential for further crosswinds on Saturday’s opening stage from Mont St Michel to Utah Beach, and Quintana admitted it was a concern.
“It’s going to be extraordinary”, Tour director Christian Prudhomme said.
“We have a very balanced team, so we will be able to challenge on all types of stages”. With an abundance of challenging gradients on offer throughout all three weeks, Quintana can play to his overwhelming strengths, and aim to distance himself from Froome et al in both the general classification as well as his favoured king of the mountain challenge.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Saturday’s first stage in Normandy, Porte said: “Off the bike we’re still friends, but on the bike it’s important to say we’re rivals”.
“One day I might have to leave, I don’t know but I don’t want to do that if I feel I’ll be given a chance”.
While often criticized as an ugly rider for his high-cadence seated technique on climbs, Froome’s frenetic pace is often unbeatable once the road tilts uphill. Problem number one is that rivals have multiplied in the last two years as a new, young generation of contenders moves towards the Tour’s centre-stage. I don’t expect favours off those guys and I don’t think they expect any favours off me.
“I am really excited to start the Tour”. In reality he also won the 2010 TDF and finished fifth in 2011, but was stripped of these titles after he was found guilty of accidental ingestion of the prohibited substance Clenbuterol.
But having won the Tour in 2014, Nibali could take over team leadership if Aru struggles.
“Having said that we definitely can’t take anything for granted”. We have a strong team here with a good lead-out and the atmosphere is great at the moment. A duo of strong showings in the Criterium du Dauphine last month, during which he was second in both the time trial and a mountain top finish behind Chris Froome, will have boosted his confidence as he rode home to 4th on GC.
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“It will be the Tour in which we would like to show Oleg Tinkov our gratitude for his support all these years”.
