5. There are lots of contenders—but one major favorite
After winning in 2016, British cyclist Chris Froome (pictured, left) is being looked at as one of the favorites, but he enters the Tour de France in the midst of a tough season. Froome hasn’t had a win yet this season entering the race—his first winless Tour run-up in five years.
The biggest challenge to a Froome repeat will likely come from his former teammate, Richie Porte (pictured, right), who left Team Sky two years ago. Porte is having a great season so far, winning the Tour de Romandie and Tour Down Under, while also coming in second place at the Criterium du Dauphine, giving him some major momentum for the Tour de France. (Porte came in fifth in 2016.)
“We really have got an Australian favorite with Richie Porte,” Liggett says. “He’s a very good friend of Chris [Froome] throughout his career because they were both on the Sky team together. But they both want to win the Tour. Froome truly agrees that Porte is probably having the greatest moment of his professional career right now. He’s having a stellar season, and if his form continues, he is the man to beat. In the past, he’s always been a little bit fragile, but now he has a really good chance.”
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