WELCOME
TOUR DE FRANCE 2017
When we canvassed pundits for their predictions for this year’s race (see p28), few, unsurprisingly, could see past Chris Froome making it four yellow jerseys from five goes, as he continues to relentlessly target the race, at the expense of all else. We might as well call the whole thing off and crown him champ now, right? Well, let’s not be hasty. As ever, he’ll have to fend off challenges from all directions and will need to be at his unflappable best to do so. On the road he’ll have his strongest opponents yet in Alejandro Valverde, Richie Porte, Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana, not to mention having to negotiate Christian Prudhomme’s unfamiliar, inventive route. Off the bike, he’ll have all the baggage that comes with being Sky’s leader at the Tour - this year more than ever. Far from being a procession, we might be in for a belter.