The largest occasion on the biking calendar, and one of the vital noteworthy sporting occasions on this planet, is upon us: the 2024 Tour de France will begin this weekend.

The 111th version of the race might be kicked off within the Italian metropolis of Florence on Saturday, June 29. A complete of 21 phases and a pair of,170 miles will take riders to Good on the French Riviera.

This yr’s Tour tasks to be as memorable a Grande Boucle as any in latest historical past. Look no additional than a star-studded begin listing that features a number of the largest names within the sport — together with the so-called “massive 4” of Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard, Primož Roglič and Remco Evenepoel going at one another for the primary time ever.

So, who will come out on high? That’s anyone’s guess at this cut-off date, however right here is our overview of who to control over the following three weeks.

The phenomenon

Given what has transpired thus far this season, there’s one out-and-out favourite for this race. It’s none apart from the perfect rider of his technology.

1. Tadej Pogačar (SLO), UAE Workforce Emirates: A two-time Tour de France winner already, the 25-year-old wunderkind is in the midst of what might find yourself being a historic season. His 2024 palmarès thus far consists of some dominant victories, together with on the Giro d’Italia in Could. Will he present any indicators of fatigue after beating his competitors by virtually 10 minutes within the first grand tour of the season? Or was it only a three-week appetizer for what lies forward? For what it’s value, Pogačar himself — who modified his coaching routine and private coach for the reason that final Tour de France — appears to assume his finest is but to return. A scary thought.

The defending champion

One massive purpose why Pogačar is the favourite is that his fundamental rival of the final three editions of the Tour de France was concerned in a devastating crash in early April. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to by no means rely one other two-time champion out both.

2. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN), Visma | Lease a Bike: Vingegaard was in a position to beat Pogačar in back-to-back years, and at a full 100% ought to be capable of problem the Slovenian megastar but once more. The query is: will he be at a 100%? The Dane suffered a punctured lung in addition to rib and collarbone fractures on the Tour of Basque Nation lower than three months in the past, and hasn’t raced since. His type is a thriller, and one thing his rivals would possibly wish to attempt to exploit early on within the Tour. If the 27-year-old is ready to maintain issues shut heading into the ultimate week, nonetheless, his very good climbing skills would possibly put him proper again into the dialog in any case.

The unsure stars

The final three years particularly had been the Pogačar and Vingegaard present, and when at their finest they’re a transparent step above the remainder of the peloton so far as stage racing is worried. Nevertheless, two different riders are literally inside placing distance themselves — although they crashed alongside Vingegaard in April.

3. Primož Roglič (SLO), Pink Bull-Bora-hansgrohe: Vingegaard’s former teammate nonetheless has some unfinished enterprise in France after narrowly dropping the 2020 Tour to his compatriot Pogačar and failing to complete the race in each 2021 and 2022. At age 34, nonetheless, time is working out for the ex-ski jumper. Regardless of being on the older facet in comparison with his closest rivals, Roglič continues to be a world-class rider — one thing he confirmed within the lead-up to the Tour de France when he gained the Critérium du Dauphiné, regardless of a severe wobble on the ultimate stage.

4. Remco Evenepoel (BEL), Soudal Fast-Step: Evenepoel was among the many riders overwhelmed by Roglič on the Dauphiné, however he appeared to focus extra on his personal build-up towards the Tour de France moderately than the end in that individual race. Contemplating that he too crashed at Basque Nation, this is sensible, nevertheless it creates an aura of uncertainty across the Belgian — particularly when evaluating himself to the Pogačars and Vingegaards of the world in a grand tour setting for the primary time. Nonetheless, the proficient teenager is a sensible podium contender on this race and would possibly even be capable of push for the highest spot himself as a consequence of his time-trialling capabilities.

The outsiders

It could be fairly a shock if the winner wasn’t one of many massive 4 of Pogačar, Vingegaard, Roglič or Evenepoel. That mentioned, something can occur in a three-week race and groups is likely to be compelled to adapt as a consequence of crash, crack, or sickness. If that’s the case, a member of this group would possibly find yourself on the highest step of the rostrum when all is alleged and achieved.

5. Carlos Rodriguez (ESP), Ineos Grenadiers: Rodriguez might lack the star energy of the top-ranked riders on this listing, however he’s no slouch both. He completed second, first, and fourth in his final three stage races this season, and was fifth within the Tour final yr. With a powerful Ineos Grenadiers group supporting him, he might soar onto the rostrum in 2024 in case the massive 4 present some weak spot.

6. Adam Yates (UK), UAE Workforce Emirates: Recent off a win on the Tour de Suisse, Yates will function Pogačar’s right-hand man and high lieutenant the following three weeks. He’s a top quality basic classification racer in his personal proper, nonetheless, and completed third behind his captain and Jonas Vingegaard in 2023. One other podium end result will not be out of the realm of risk even with a assist position as his main job.

7. Matteo Jorgenson (USA), Visma | Lease a Bike: With Vingegaard’s type finest categorized as “TBD” and with fellow American Sepp Kuss scratched from the Visma | Lease a Bike begin listing as a consequence of medical causes, the 24-year-old Jorgenson is likely to be half backup chief, half tremendous domestique beginning off the race. No matter his position, he’s greater than able to a top-three end contemplating how his season has been going thus far: he gained Paris-Good in March, and completed solely 8 seconds all the way down to Roglič on the Dauphiné earlier this month.

8. Juan Ayuso (ESP), UAE Workforce Emirates: Ayuso could be a pacesetter on most groups, however being on the one headlined by Tadej Pogačar means he too must work for the massive boss. That doesn’t imply he won’t compete for a basic classification spot as properly, and be saved near the race lead as a attainable break-glass-in-case-of-emergency choice.

9. Egan Bernal (COL), Ineos Grenadiers: Considered one of 4 former Tour de France champions to start out this yr’s race alongside Pogačar, Vingegaard, and Ineos Grenadiers teammate Geraint Thomas, Bernal is in the midst of a great season. He has but to win, sure, however for the primary time since a career-altering crash in 2022 is competing at a high stage once more. A podium end would possibly nonetheless be out of attain, particularly with Carlos Rodriguez forward of him within the pecking order, however stranger issues have occurred.

10. João Almeida (POR), UAE Workforce Emirates: Almeida has completed within the top-10 in 13 of his 15 profession stage races, together with as No. 2 on the Tour de Suisse earlier this month. He’s nonetheless solely the fourth favourite amongst a stacked UAE squad, however just like his teammate Ayuso is likely to be saved within the working for so long as attainable particularly after exhibiting some promising type in Switzerland.

11. Aleksandr Vlasov (RUS), Pink Bull-Bora-hansgrohe: Vlasov was Primož Roglič’s high helper on the Dauphine, and himself driving a great race to complete sixth total. It was his fourth top-10 end in a stage race this yr, and he might find yourself making some noise on the Tour de France as properly if allowed to go for his personal end result on high of serving to shield Roglič.

The perfect of the remainder

Regardless of a transparent hierarchy to the listing of favorites, basic classification ambitions won’t finish with the names above. The truth is, loads of riders will think about a top-10 end result as a hit and will even have their eyes on the rostrum underneath the correct — or fallacious, relying on the way you have a look at it — circumstances.

That being mentioned, the probabilities of any individual like Felix Gall, Tom Pidcock, Geraint Thomas, Enric Mas, Jai Hindley, Mikel Landa, Simon Yates, or Derek Gee successful and even podiuming this yr’s Tour de France are pretty low. That doesn’t imply they gained’t play their half in making the race thrilling, however they haven’t proven they’ll persistently problem the highest canine.