Tour de France 2015: Chris Froome & Alberto Contador among favourites

The battle for the yellow jersey at this July’s Tour de France promises to be one of the closest in years.

All of the best stage racers of the current generation are in action and a route awaits that will test them in a variety of areas.

Here are 10 riders who could challenge for victory or a place on the podium in Paris…

CHRIS FROOME (TEAM SKY)

Age: 30.
Nationality: British.
Best Tour result: 1st (2013).
Last year’s result: Did not finish.
SkyBet odds: 15/8.

Froome goes into this year’s Tour in good form after putting a difficult spring behind him with an impressive win at the Criterium du Dauphine – the key warm-up race – in June. He was still not at his 100 per cent best, but two stage wins suggested he is peaking at just the right time. The Tour’s route is ideally suited to Froome’s all-round skills and he has a strong and well-balanced team to shepherd him through stages less favourable to his style. The bookmakers’ favourite.

ALBERTO CONTADOR (TINKOFF-SAXO)

Age: 32.
Nationality: Spanish.
Best Tour result: 1st (2007 and 2009).
Last year’s result: Did not finish.
SkyBet odds: 4/1.

Contador is looking to win a third yellow jersey and, in the process, become the first man since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win the Giro d’Italia and Tour in the same year. He appeared tired at the end of the Giro but seemed to have recovered well when beating Nairo Quintana to overall victory at the Route de Sud in the Pyrenees in June. The route also suits his style, although he struggled badly on the cobbled stage of last year’s Tour and will need to avoid a repeat on the cobbled stage of this year’s edition. A fierce competitor with almost unrivaled race craft, Contador should be there or thereabouts.

NAIRO QUINTANA (MOVISTAR)

Age: 25.
Nationality: Colombian.
Best Tour result: 2nd (2013).
Last year’s result: Did not race.
SkyBet odds: 5/2.

The climbing expert finished second behind Froome at the 2013 Tour and is looking to go one better on a mountainous route that seems perfect for him. He’s not a great time-triallist, so the small amount of time-trialling will be warmly welcomed, but he loves going uphill and so the six summit finishes will hold great appeal. The cobbled stage is a big concern for a rider as light at Quintana and he has not been at his very best since winning Tirreno-Adriatico in March, but he is a class act and could take some beating.

VINCENZO NIBALI (ASTANA)

Age: 30.
Nationality: Italian.
Best Tour result: 1st (2014).
Last year’s result: 1st.
SkyBet odds: 4/1.

Nibali finds himself as only the fourth favourite despite winning last year’s Tour in dominant fashion. He was outstanding 12 months ago, claiming four stages as well as the yellow jersey, but his cause was undoubtedly aided by Froome and Contador both crashing out. Nonetheless, Nibali is a superb all-rounder who can flourish on all terrains. He will also look to gain time on his rivals on the cobbled fourth stage, having performed brilliantly on last year’s cobbled stage, and will also be supported by a powerful team. His results have been poor all season but a win in the Italian national road race championship last weekend suggested he could have timed his rise to form perfectly.

THIBAUT PINOT (FDJ.FR)

Age: 25.
Nationality: French.
Best Tour result: 3rd (2014).
Last year’s result: 3rd.
SkyBet odds: 22/1.

Pinot is one of two big French hopes at the Tour and although he matures and improves with every race, bettering his third-place finish in the 2014 edition could be a tough ask given the calibre of opposition he is up against. Stage wins on summit finishes at both the Tour de Romandie and Tour de Suisse in the build-up to the Tour suggested he is in excellent climbing form, but he will be less optimistic about the two time trials. Nevertheless, Pinot is as good a bet as anyone to break the monopoly of Froome, Contador, Quintana and Nibali.

TEJAY VAN GARDEREN (BMC RACING)

Age: 26.
Nationality: American.
Best Tour result: 5th (2012 and 2014).
Last year’s result: 5th.
SkyBet odds: 33/1.

Van Garderen's second-placed finish behind Froome at the Criterium du Dauphine in June hinted that he is well positioned for another top five at the Tour. He is strong in almost every discipline and will be backed by a powerful team, but it remains to be seen whether he can match the very best in the high mountains. He got the better of Froome in one mountain stage of the Dauphine but was then left behind by the Briton in another two. Still, a podium is not out of the question.

ROMAIN BARDET (AG2R-LA MONDIALE)

Age: 24.
Nationality: French.
Best Tour result: 6th (2014).
Last year’s result: 6th.
SkyBet odds: 50/1.

Bardet is the other rider French hopes are hanging on – and for good reason. He won a stage of the Criterium du Dauphine in June after a superb display of descending and then climbing on an identical finish to stage 17 of the Tour, which will no doubt have given him confidence, but a final placing of sixth at the Dauphine was less encouraging. Like Pinot, Bardet is a strong climber but the time trials will be a concern.

JOAQUIM RODRIGUEZ (KATUSHA)

Age: 36.
Nationality: Spanish.
Best Tour result: 3rd (2013).
Last year’s result: 54th.
SkyBet odds: 25/1.

The mountainous 2015 Tour route has possibly come two or three years too late for Rodriguez, who was one of the most ferocious climbers in the peloton at his peak but now appears to be a fading force. He beat Quintana to win the Tour of the Basque Country in April but could only finish eighth at the Criterium du Dauphine. Arguably the best stage racer of the current generation never to have won a grand tour, he will be keen to capitalise on a route that suits him well.

BAUKE MOLLEMA (TREK FACTORY RACING)

Age: 28.
Nationality: Dutch.
Best Tour result: 6th (2013).
Last year’s result: 10th.
SkyBet odds: 150/1.

Mollema has good pedigree at the Tour and it wouldn’t be an upset to see him pushing for a place in the top six or seven. A strong climber, Mollema finished an impressive second behind Quintana at Tirreno-Adriatico in March and although his form has since dipped (he was 60th at the Criterium du Dauphine), he will benefit from a strong support team. 

RICHIE PORTE (TEAM SKY)

Age: 30.
Nationality: Australian.
Best Tour result: 19th (2013).
Last year’s result: 23rd.
SkyBet odds: 50/1.

Porte had been bidding for victory at May’s Giro d’Italia before a combination of misfortune and injury put paid to his challenge. His chief role at the Tour will be to support Froome in the high mountains, but in doing so, don’t be surprised to see him place high up the general classification himself. Plus, should Froome be unable to finish the race, Porte will likely to step up into a leadership role for Team Sky.

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