FIVE TOUR STARS TO KEEP AN EYE ON

RICHIE PORTE:

At 33, time is running low for Chris Froome’s ex-team Sky sidekick to (left) break his Le Tour duck. The Aussie retired with a broken shoulder and pelvis last year after a 45mph crash.

ROMAIN BARDET:

One of the main reasons the French resent Team Sky’s domination of their blue riband race is that there has not been a home winner for 33 years. Bardet has finished second and third in the last two editions.

NAIRO QUINTANA:

Colombian mountain goat (below) is potentially Froome’s most dangerous rival, and beat him by 1min 23sec at the Vuelta in 2016, but Movistar has three GC contenders and there could be friction over the pecking order.

MIKEL LANDA:

Quintana’s new colleague from Spain was a strong member of Froome’s supporting cast last year and left Team Sky because he resented being held back from challenging for stage wins.

Probably nearer a podium contender than outright winner.

TOM DUMOULIN:

First week of largely flat, classics-style racing with crosswinds and cobbles will suit Dutchman.

The 2017 Giro champ (below) only finished 46sec adrift of Froome in Rome two months ago. But two brutal sections of mountain stages in the Alps and Pyrenees are unlikely to favour him.