From Thibaut Pinot to Fabio Aru: The ones to watch at Tour de France 2016

Last year’s Tour de France winner Chris Froome looks as strong as ever but there are plenty who would give the Brit a run for his money.

Here, we look at the top contenders vying for a podium finish.

ALBERTO CONTADOR

Nationality: Spanish

Age: 33

Tour de France best: Winner (2007, 2009)

Alberto Contador facts

9 - this will be his ninth Tour de France
1.12 - minutes he finished behind Froome last year

Question marks remain whether Contador is a spent force as his climbing has certainly been on the decline (although he still very much remains an elite athlete in this field). His time-trialling should help keep him in the equation in a race he thinks will go right to the wire. The presence of Peter Sagan in the team is also of concern, given his popularity among fans and he’ll have his own ambitions.

CHRIS FROOME

Nationality: British

Age: 31

Tour de Frace best: Winner (2013, 2015)

Chris Froome facts

6 - this will be his sixth Tour de France
2 - the two previous years he won the Criterium du Dauphine, he won the Tour

True to form, Froome has the Criterium du Dauphine win behind him and with his experience and success, it’s difficult to pinpoint too many weaknesses. A fantastic climber, he’s also arguably the best time trialist of the GC contenders. Added to that he has a wonderful balance of pure climbers (Henao, Landa, Nieve and Pouls) and grinders (Kiryienka, Stannard, Thomas, Rowe) to support him.

NAIRO QUINTANA

Nationality: Colombian

Age: 26

Tour de France best: Runner-up (2013, 2015)

The best climber in the race with team-mates – Valverde, Moreno, Izagirre brothers and Jesus Herrada – who are all pure climbers and know much of the route, particularly the Pyrenees, like the back of their hands. Has enjoyed a strong year with some eye-catching victories and if he can perform in the time-trialling he’ll be tough to beat.

FABIO ARU

Nationality: Italian

Age: 25

Tour de France best: First appearance

Fabio Aru facts

3 - podiums (1st, 2nd & 3rd) in his last four Grand Tours
1 - stage win in 2016; Stage 3 at the Criterium du Dauphine

Making his Tour debut as Astana’s capitano and has some excellent support behind him in Vincenzo Nibali and Jakob Fuglsang. Is a natural climber with superb acceleration and has the Vuelta a Espana under his belt so knows how to triumph in a Grand Tour. But it remains a huge ask for him to win in his first appearance plus, how much will 2014 winner Nibali try and seek personal glory?

RICHIE PORTE

Nationality: Australian

Age: 31

Tour de France best: 19th (2013)

All the tools are there – wonderful climber and rapid time-trialler – but is yet to show he can put everything together over a three-week race. Is co-leading BMC alongside Tejay van Garderen and it remains to be seen who will take precedence, given the American’s own GC abilities. Like Pinot, it’s difficult to envisage him not having at least one really bad day which, in a field so strong, will likely cost him.

THIBAUT PINOT

Nationality: French

Age: 26

Tour de France best: Third (2014)

The great hope of French fans who have gone 21 years since the last home GC winner. His previous weakness was his time-trialling which he has improved given his ITT win at Tour de Romandie – in a field also including Froome, Quintana and Van Garderen, as well as specialists Bob Jungels and Tom Dumoulin. His descending, however, still needs work and he’s sure to have at least one bad day.