Cycling: The 104th edition of the Tour de France starts in Düsseldorf on Saturday. 198 riders in 22 teams fight for the yellow jersey on 21 stages. Who has the best chance of winning the big game in 2017? We present our seven top favourites.
Chris Froome (Sky) – Top favorite despite moderate preparation
Briton Chris Froome has already won the Tour de France three times. In 2013, 2015 and 2016 he was at the top of the podium. He previously won the Critérium du Dauphiné in all three years. This season, Chris Froome disappointed. At the Critérium du Dauphiné he tried everything on the final stage. In the end, however, he came out of the week-long Tour as a big loser. It was only enough for fourth place. He was also unable to meet the high expectations at the Tour de Romandie, the Volta a Catalunya and the Herald Sun Tour. Will Chris Froome still be in top form for the Tour de France? If so, the overall victory again goes only to him. The latest results, however, strongly doubt this.
Richie Porte (BMC) – Is he finally staying consistent for three weeks?
Chris Froome will face some challengers this year. Team BMC has a hot iron in the fire. Australian Richie Porte has been riding at the absolute highest level in the mountains and time trials for a number of years. But in the Grand Tours it hasn't been enough to achieve a top result. Richie Porte's problem is the consistency over three weeks. He often has one or two bad days, after which he has to bury all hopes of a good place in the general classification. For week-long tours, it is one of the best that the current generation of cycling circuits has to offer. In his career he won, among other things, Paris-Nice, the Volta a Catalunya, the Tour Down Under and the Tour de Romandie. Richie Porte secured the last two tours mentioned this year. He finished second at the Critérium du Dauphiné and looked a lot stronger than Chris Froome. If Richie Porte finally stays constant over three weeks, he can also attack Chris Froome at his best.
Nairo Quintana (Movistar) – It's going to be tough with the Giro in your legs
In the Tour de France, Nairo Quintana finished second twice and third once. He hasn't yet managed the really big hit in the Great Loop, because he always failed because of Chris Froome. The Colombian has already won the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana. It seems unlikely that he will win the Tour de France this year. After all, Nairo Quintana started at the Giro d'Italia and finished second. According to official statements, however, Movistar will still rely entirely on him. If he coped well with the Tour of Italy, Nairo Quintana will aim for the podium again.
Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) – Noble Helper & Substitute Captain
Oldie but Goldie: Alejandro Valverde just doesn't get tired. The now 37-year-old Spaniard has had another outstanding season. Among other things, he won the Volta a Catalunya, the Tour of the Basque Country and of course the Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. At the end of the 2017 Tour de France, however, he will not be at the top. He's got plenty of races under his belt and is scheduled to be Nairo Quintana's second-choice assistant and reserve captain. If the race goes perfectly, however, Alejandro Valverde can win stages and maybe reach the top 10 in the overall ranking again.
Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) – it should be the podium again
Alberto Contador has been going downhill for a while. In the 2017 season, however, the Spaniard was able to regain some ground. Alberto Contador finished four round trips this year in second place. He's certainly not one of the top favorites anymore, but the podium seems possible again. The few time trial kilometers are good for him, as are the steeper climbs. But it still won't be enough for overall victory. The podium would already be a big achievement for Alberto Contador at the 2017 Tour de France.
Fabio Aru (Astana) – How strong is the Italian after his injury?
Due to a knee injury, Fabio Aru had to cancel the Giro d'Italia. However, the Italian put away this bitter news relatively well. The focus was immediately put on the Tour de France. Even he probably doesn't know how strong Fabio Aru will be in the tour of France. There aren't any results to use as a guide. The fact is that Fabio Aru is already one of the best tour riders in the peloton at a young age. He'll lose ground in the time trial, but there's hardly anyone who can beat him in the high mountains. If some of the competitors are weak and Aru has gotten into top form in time, then he can pull off a big surprise.
Romain Bardet (Ag2r) - All the hope of a nation
The French have been waiting for another winner from their country for decades. Not so long ago, the peloton searched in vain for a potential Tour de France winner. There are now quite a few Frenchmen who could be credited with a place on the podium. This undoubtedly includes Romain Bardet. Last year he was already second, but that should not have been it yet. The few kilometers in the fight against the clock also help him. Its strengths lie in the mountains. In addition, he still seems to be slightly underestimated. For many, his name is still not as resonant as Quintana, Froome or Valverde. But since there are question marks behind almost all the favorites mentioned, the 2017 Tour de France could possibly be the Tour of Romain Bardet – and the many French fans lining the road!
Garrincha says
Jakob Fuglsang from Astana is clearly missing here!