THE LEADING TOUR DE FRANCE CONTENDERS
RICHIE PORTE (BMC, Aus)
Age: 32
Tour record: six starts for six finishes, no stage wins, fifth overall last year
The Launceston native is one of the main favourites, alongside his great friend and three-time Tour champion Chris Froome and Colombian Nairo Quintana. Porte is the strongest rider in the field, but can he realise his potential and become the second Australian to win Le Tour?
CHRIS FROOME (Sky, Gbr)
Age: 32
Tour record: six starts, five finishes, three overall wins, two-time defending champion
The last time Froome was this far into a season without any wins, he was about to announce himself by taking out stage seven in the 2012 Tour. Has looked vulnerable this year, but Froome remains the favourite. Will have the backing of the strongest team in the race.
NAIRO QUINTANA (Movistar, Col)
Age: 27
Tour record: three finishes - twice runner-up and also third overall
A super-consistent Grand Tour rider who has won the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana. In his last five Grand Tours, his worst result is fourth. But how much did it take out of him to finish second in May at the Giro?
FABIO ARU (Astana, Ita)
Age: 26 (27 on July 3)
Tour record: one finish
The 2015 Vuelta champion will share team leadership with Dane Jakob Fuglsang, who won the Criterium Dauphine earlier this month. Aru still is probably the stronger contender of the two, despite having to pull out of the Giro because of injury.
ALBERTO CONTADOR (Trek-Segafredo, Esp)
Age: 34
Tour record: nine starts, five finishes, two overall wins
Seen as the last realistic chance for Contador to win his third Tour title. No longer the super talent he was a few years ago, but still strong enough that it would be folly to bet against him. Lost the 2010 Tour title because of a doping ban.
ESTEBAN CHAVES (Orica-Scott, Col)
Age: 27
Tour record: debut
After podium finishes at the Giro and Vuelta this year, hopes were high at Orica-Scott that Chaves could make a big impact in his first Tour de France. But a knee injury ruined his early-season race program and now he is racing more for the experience.
OTHER NOTABLES
PETER SAGAN (Bora-Hansgrohe, Svk)
Age: 27
Tour record: five finishes, seven stage wins, last five green jerseys for winning the points classification
The two-time world road champion is one of the best riders of his generation - certainly the most charismatic. If he wins his sixth-straight green jersey, he will equal the record of German Erik Zabel.
MARK CAVENDISH (Dimension Data, Gbr)
Age: 32
Tour record: 10 starts, six finishes, 30 stage wins, one green jersey
Only the legendary Eddy Merckx has more stage wins with 34. But the sprint ace has had glandular fever and it is unclear what condition the Manx Missile will be in next month.
THE OTHER AUSTRALIAN STARTERS
JAY McCARTHY (Bora-Hansgrohe)
Age: 24
Tour record: debut
At 24, the Queenslander is already five years into his top-level pro career. He finished third in January at the Tour Down Under and will be an important domestique for team leaders Peter Sagan and Rafal Majka.
SIMON CLARKE (Cannondale-Drapac)
Age: 30 (31 on July 18)
Tour record: two finishes
A welcome return to Le Tour for Clarke, who last rode in the race three years ago. He joined Cannondale-Drapac two years ago to broaden his career and it has paid dividends. A well-credentialled climbing domestique.
MARK RENSHAW (Dimension Data)
Age: 34
Tour record: eight starts, three finishes
Mr Leadout. Once again, Renshaw is in the Tour mainly to set up British ace Mark Cavendish for the sprint finishes. Renshaw has been crucial to the success of the Manx Missile
ADAM HANSEN (Lotto-Soudal)
Age: 36
Tour record: seven starts, six finishes
This is the 18th Grand Tour in succession for Hansen as cycling's ironman extends his own record. The amiable domestique is a much-respected and liked figure in the peloton. Finished the Giro d'Italia in May despite a crash that left him with a significant hand injury
DAMIEN HOWSON (Orica-Scott)
Age: 24
Tour record: debut
Won the Herald Sun Tour earlier this year. An emerging talent who will ride shotgun for team leaders Esteban Chaves and Simon Yates in the mountains.
MATHEW HAYMAN (Orica-Scott)
Age: 39
Tour record: two starts, one finish
Last year's Paris-Roubaix champion will be the road captain for Orica-Scott. A hugely-respected domestique
LUKE DURBIDGE (Orica-Scott)
Age: 26
Tour record: three finishes
"Turbo Durbo" has earned his nickname with fearsome turns of pace making. Orica-Scott's engine room.
MICHAEL MATTHEWS (Sunweb)
Age: 26
Tour record: two finishes, stage win 2016
A huge talent who left Orica-Scott at the end of last season. Two pro wins this year for "Bling" and a big chance to win another Tour stage. The only Australian in the field this year who has an individual Tour stage win.
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