For the past nine months, Chris Froome - and the rest of the field at the Tour de France - have been left in the dark over whether the four-time winner will be available to take part in the world's most famous race due to excessive levels of Salbutamol being found in his urine last year. Froome has always maintained his innocence and a willingness to co-operate with the procedure and investigation which has taken place ever since and earlier this week, the Union Cycliste Internationale - cycling's world governing body - announced that the anti-doping case against the British rider had been dropped. The decision has been met with a mixed reception but on Saturday, Froome will begin his bid for a record-equalling fifth crown.
Unlike in previous years, the current Tour de France betting odds do not make Froome as the odds-on favourite to add to his yellow jerseys but having recently prevailed at the Giro d'Italia, there is little doubt that Froome still deserves to go off at odds of just above Evens. For an event lasting more than three weeks and given the mental battle that Froome has had to endure and will continue to experience during the race, those betting odds may still feel a little short but the 33-year-old remains the man to beat and while he will have a target on his back, the motivation will be there to overcome adversity yet again and further cement his legacy in a sport which has frequently been tarnished by doping.
© Getty Images
However, there is still value to be had elsewhere and Richie Porte is being tipped to pose the biggest challenge. The Australian crashed out of last year's race during the early stages but more focus should be placed on the fact that fifth was achieved two years ago and the 33-year-old has only improved over the past 24 months. Of course, it is a big ask of Porte but this is a rider who has a strong team behind him at BMC while he has no stranger to success in this part of Europe having previously won the Paris-Nice on two occasions and prevailed at the Tour de Suisse earlier this year. You can currently get Porte at odds nearing 5/1 but there is still value to be had in the general classification without Froome at 23/10.
As far as the best of the rest are concerned, you can never rule out Nairo Quintana, who would be a two-time Tour de France winner had it not been for the brilliance of Froome. The 28-year-old only finished down in 12th position last year but the Colombian has three top-three placings to his name while his team Movistar are currently being backed to edge out Team Sky in the team standings. Quintana is currently available at 9/1 - a huge price, all things considered - and the 8/5 on offer for a top-three finish feels like a no-brainer.
Vincenzo Nibali also deserves to be on your shortlist. The Italian is one of the sport's best all-rounders and when that all fits together, he can be a hard man to beat. It has been four years since the 33-year-old won the Tour de France - the only time that someone other than Froome has claimed victory over the past five years - and his form has not necessarily been up there during the current campaign but Nibali is very rarely far off the top of the general classification and deserves your attention. Odds of 10/1 may not be enough to entice you into a sizeable bet but Nibali is 5/2 to claim a top-three spot with Froome involved and 7/1 to finish the best of the rest without Froome. Logic suggests that both should be strongly considered.
As far as the remainder of the British challenge is concerned, that should come from Geraint Thomas and Adam Yates but neither should really be considered for victory at this year's Tour de France. A top-three finish is likely to be your best chance of success with either, with odds 15/4 and 19/4 respectively currently being on offer.
