With this year's Tour de France just two weeks away Suite101 looks at just who will competing for the most treasured prize in cycling - the maillot jaune.

This year's Tour de France is possibly one of the most open races ever. With last year's winner Alberto Contador's new team Astana not invited to the race there is no overwhelming favourite. So just who has a realistic chance of wearing yellow into Paris?

Cadel Evans

The 31 year-old Australian rides for the Silence – Lotto team and has the best tour pedigree of any rider contesting this year's race. The former mountain biker has steadily improved over the last few years placing eighth and fourth in 2005 and 2006 respectively before coming second last year to Contador by only 23 seconds.

Evans is a strong rider who can time trial well and can broadly stay with the front group in the mountains. He is unlikely to attack any of his rivals on the Tour's climbs and will look to win the Tour in the time trials.

Yellow Jersey Potential: Short time trials on this year's route may harm his chances.

Carlos Sastre

Sastre will be the leader of a very strong CSC Team and whilst the Spanish rider will start the race as the team's main man it is very possible that as the race progresses he will find himself under pressure from some of his team-mates – most notably the Schleck brothers Franck and Andy.

Like Evans, the 33 year-old has placed well over the last few tours finishing third in 2005 and fourth in 2006. Whilst his time trialling may not be the best he is a fantastic climber and will look to attack on at least one of the big mountain stages.

Yellow Jersey Potential: Will need to take time in the mountains. Yellow remains a possibility but may not even be the the top man in his own team come Paris.

Damiano Cunego

Having arrived on to the Grand Tour scene with an unexpected win in the 2004 Giro d'Italia, Italian Damiano Cunego is one of only two riders in this year's race who has won a Grand Tour. The 26 year-old is the youngest of the pre-race favourites and won the White Jersey for the best placed rider under 25 in his only previous appearance at the Tour in 2006.

This year Cunego, who rides for Italian team Lampre, missed his home Giro preferring to concentrate on the Tour. He has had a good season so far winning the Amstel Gold Classic one day race in April. Another rider who climbs well but suffers in the time trials, Cunego will have to attack at some point in the mountains to be in with a chance.

Yellow Jersey Potential: Will have to climb his way to victory. Podium is possible but Yellow may be beyond him.

Denis Menchov

The 30 year old Russian is the other rider in this year's race to have won a grand tour – taking victory in the 2007 Vuelta A Espana. The Rabobank rider will look to limit his losses on the big climbs and perform well in the time trials. He won't be exciting to watch but his tactics may be enough to keep him in contention.

Yellow Jersey Potential: Will need to time trial his way to victory.

Alejandro Valverde

When 28 year old Spanish rider Valverde finishes a grand tour he consistently places highly – second, fourth and third places in the Vuelta A Espana and sixth in last year's Tour. The problem is he also has two 'Did Not Finish' results against his name in the Tour.

Assuming Valverde can make it to Paris this race could be his for the taking. He's had a good season so far winning Liege – Bastogne – Liege as well as taking victory in the Dauphine Libere (France's second most important race and often described as the Tour de France in one week). With the impressive Caisse D'Epargne team behind him it could well be time for Valverde to take his first grand tour victory.

Yellow Jersey Potential: Time trialling is a weakness but he remains a serious contender.

Final Paris Podium Prediction

1st Alejandro Valverde

2nd Cadel Evans

3rd Damiano Cunego

References

Cycle Sport Magazine July 2008 Edition