TOUR DE FRANCE - THE CONTENDERS
CHRIS FROOME
Age: 29
Team: Team Sky
Country: Britain
Previous appearances (finishes in brackets): 2008 (84th), 2012 (2nd), 2013 (1st).
Stage wins: Four (2012 - stage seven; 2013 - stages eight, 15 and 17).
Froome has not been the near-unbeatable beast he was in 2013 this year and is nervous about the cobbled fifth stage. Froome won the opening two stages of the Criterium du Dauphine, but a crash contributed to his demise later in the race as he finished 12th, giving his rivals a boost ahead of the Tour.
ALBERTO CONTADOR
Age: 31
Team: Tinkoff-Saxo
County: Spain
Previous appearances (finishes): 2007 (1st), 2009 (1st), 2010 (1st*), 2011 (5th*), 2013 (fourth).
Stage wins: Three (2007 - stage 14; 2009 - stages 15 and 18)
The double winner, stripped of the third title he won in 2010 and his fifth place in 2011 for a doping offence, is showing glimpses of his best form. Whether it will be enough to distance Froome remains to be seen.
VINCENZO NIBALI
Age: 29
Team: Astana
County: Italy
Previous appearances (finishes): 2008 (20), 2009 (7th), 2012 (3rd).
Stage wins: None
The winner of the 2013 Giro d'Italia missed last year's Tour after being Bradley Wiggins and Froome's nearest challenger the previous year. A daring descender who could attack at any moment.
ALEJANDRO VALVERDE
Age: 34
Team: Movistar
County: Spain
Previous appearances (finishes): 2005 (stage 13 abandoned), 2006 (stage three abandoned), 2007 (6th), 2008 (9th), 2012 (20), 2013 (8).
Stage wins: Three (2005 - stage 10; 2008 - stage one; 2012 - stage 17).
Valverde, another who has served a doping suspension, is touted as Movistar's team leader. Won 2009 Vuelta a Espana.
