Tour de France veteran Jens Voigt believes Team Sky rider Chris Froome is the favourite to go and win the 100th edition of race this summer.
Froome played a supporting role to Sir Bradley Wiggins in the 2012 Tour as he went on to become the first Brit ever to triumph at the prestigious event.
Wiggins then added an Olympic gold medal to his tally last year but has not enjoyed the same success in 2013, struggling with an injury-plagued season as well as a chest infection, which forced him to pull out of the Giro d’Italia. That has pushed Froome to the forefront as he hopes for glory this summer.
Voigt, 28, finished second behind his team-mate in last year’s event, but the German believes this is his time to shine and show what he is really capable of without the shackles on.
This year’s Tour starts in Corsica on June 29 and ends in Paris on July 21 after 3,479 km of racing, over 21 stages.
Voigt said: “Like Bradley last year, Chris has shown consistent form all season.
“Froome is going to win, Alberto Contador will finish second and I think Tejay van Garderen will finish third.
“Right now, I think it will be Froome, Contador and Van Garderen. I might end up looking like a prophet, or I may end up looking like a fool – but that is my podium.
“Chris just looks like Bradley last year, the same things – he is strong, a dominant rider and a solid leader.”
Link Dafabet