Chris Froome says Richie Porte his biggest Tour de France rival on course that doesn't suit

Chris Froome feels this year's Tour de France course doesn't suit him because of a lack of mountain top finishes and fewer time trial kilometres.

Froome will lead Team Sky's bid for a fifth Tour success and wouldn't be surprised if a former team-mate and lieutenant - Richie Porte - turns out to be his main rival.

Porte has been in fine form this year, winning the Tour Down Under and Tour of Romandie, while Froome goes into the three-week race looking for his first win of any kind in 2017.

Froome told Sky Sports News HQ: "I don't think this year's course necessarily suits me as well as previous Tour de France courses have.

"I say that because of the lack of mountain top finishes and also the lack of time-trial kilometres. Having said that, it means that it's going to be a lot closer race and a lot more exciting for the fans.

"Every Tour is a different race. I can't just rely on what I did the year before. I have to always try to look to improve, try and look at upping my game.

"I'm going to have to make sure I'm absolutely at my best and to take advantage of any situations out on the road."

Froome goes for his fourth Tour win in lesser form than 12 months ago, including when finishing only fourth at the recent Criterium du Dauphine when he was dropped on a couple of climbs.

As well as Porte, who was second in the Dauphine, Froome will have to fend off challenges from Nairo Quintana and home favourite Romain Bardet, while you can never rule out Alberto Contador.

Froome said: "I'm certainly going to have my work cut out for me. I think there are maybe a dozen riders who are in with a shot of winning the Tour this year, but I think my main rival is Richie.

"I've said for a long time that Richie has got the potential to win the Tour de France, it's just a matter of time until everything works out for him. There are plenty of other guys who will be up there challenging for the overall win, though.

"I think the route really suits a rider like Bardet, and he showed last year that he has to be taken seriously. He's definitely one of the guys to look out for. I know Quintana's always said he goes stronger in the second Grand Tour, so I expect he'll come to the Tour very strong.

"It would just be incredible to win a fourth Tour. A lot of people say it's just another number, but each Tour to me tells a different story. Each Tour is unique. It's a different battle in terms of getting that Yellow Jersey and then trying to hold on to it.

"It's such a big goal to go for my fourth Tour, it feels as if it's an even greater achievement if I'm able to win four, so I have to work even harder to get there.

"That's given me a lot of motivation. I do want to try and be up there with the guys who have won multiple Tours. They are seen as part of Tour de France history, and it's a goal for me to try and be up there with them."

Froome has an incredible ability to suffer in the mountains but last year surprised riders by attacking on a key descent, a move which gained him valuable minutes.

He added: "At the end of the day the goal is to win and it's not necessarily about how you win.

"But if I look back at last year's Tour and some of the gambles I took, and some of the risks I took in terms of going for it on the descent, going for it in the crosswinds with Peter Sagan on a flat stage which would typically be a bunch sprint, it does make things more exciting, even for me. It's fun and it does bring the racing alive.

"This year I think the real key stages are going to be the Izoard mountain top finish, which is the biggest mountain top finish in the Tour this year at over 2000 metres. It's a massive climb. Stage Nine is also a hard stage with the final climb up Mont du Chat and descending down into Chambery - I think that's going to be a key stage.

"I don't think this Tour will be won and lost on a single stage, but a combination of three weeks put together."