- With four-time winner Chris Froome and 2018 runner-up Tom Dumoulin out because of crash injuries, this year's Tour de France is the most wide-open edition in years.
- Whereas there are often three or four riders who have a realistic shot at winning, this year there are up to 10.
- But pretenders will be found out: It's an extra-hard course that will favor climbers who thrive at high altitude.
- Individual time trialing is de-emphasized this year, with one relatively short TT and one team time trial.
- The winner will be a strong climber who can hold his own on flatter stages and keep the rubber side down.
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BRUSSELS - The 106th Tour de France starts here Saturday, and it looks as if it could be a vintage year.
It's the most wide-open race in years, with Chris Froome, the four-time winner, and Tom Dumoulin, last year's runner-up, out because of injury. While Geraint Thomas is here to take the start, the defending champ's form is unclear after a race-ending crash two weeks ago and the fact he's not a won a race since last year's Tour.
It's an opportunity for those who normally wouldn't be considered top favorites for cycling's greatest prize, the yellow jersey. And whereas there are usually three or four riders who have a realistic shot at winning, this time there are more like 10 who could win, depending on how generous you like your prognostications.
Sorry, TT fans, but this year's route is about the high mountains - it's the highest-altitude edition in the race's long history. The winner will be a superstrong climber who can hold his own on the flatter stages and keep the rubber side down.
Here, then, are the riders who have the best shot at winning this year's Tour, ranked from least to most likely.