Meet The 9 Americans Competing In The Tour De France - And The 2 Who Could Potentially Win The Race

This year's Tour de France (July 5-27) is gearing up to be the most hotly contested edition in years. It's the 101st running of la Grande Boucle, or Great Loop, and it looks like it'll be a relatively open three weeks of racing with no single rider or team able to completely control the 21 stages run over 2,277 miles from Leeds, England, to Paris, France.

Defending champion Chris Froome of Great Britain and two-time winner Alberto Contador of Spain are the favorites, but there are American riders who could wreak havoc on the European-dominated peloton and make a legitimate run for the podium. It's the best opportunity the U.S. has had in a long time to put one of its own in the leader's yellow jersey.