Outside Favorites for the Tour

Well, granted that the big 4 of Froome, Contador, Nibali or Quintana are the more likely of the candidates to take the general classification, but there are several underdogs. Some of them have finished high up the general classification order and who knows, injuries might plague the favorites, allowing others to capitalize on it.

So here are a few from the lot who might have a chance of winning the Tour de France general classification standings.

Tejay van Garderen (USA)

Tejay van Garderen is the BMC leader for the 2015 Tour de France, as he was last year. His best results at the tour include 5 place finishes in 2012 and 2014 (he won the young riders classification in 2012). The 26-year-old American is a good all-round cyclist and is very good at time trials. In 2014, he would have been in contention for a podium finish but lost time in the plains due to a crash (despite a valiant effort by himself and his team to pace him back to the peloton).

BMC won the 2012 Tour under Cadel Evans, and are hoping Tejay might be able to spring a surprise and reach the podium at the end of the tour.

Thibaut Pinot (FRA)

The 25 year old Frenchman is going to be Nairo Quintana’s biggest adversary for the White Jersey. He has finished 3 times in 5 attempts, in the top 10 of Grand Tours, including a 3 place finish overall in the 2014 Tour. He also comes in as the defending young rider champion. He is an exceptional climber and this tour course could suit him. However, he might lose time to his competitors in the time trial (he lost 2 place in the tour last year as his time trial performance was not good enough).

Pierre Rolland (FRA)

The 28 year old Frenchman has put in some solid and consistent performances across the grand tours. 2011 he played a brilliant supporting role for Team Leader Thomas Voeckler and won the young rider classification, as he finished 10 Overall. 2012 saw him finish 8 and in 2014, he had the 4 place at the 2014 Giro D’italia. 11 at the 2014 Tour indicate the 28 year old might have an outside chance for a top 5 or even podium finish. He has nearly made the podium of a grand tour and would undoubtedly want to finally end up on it.

Warren Barguil (FRA)

This guy is relatively new to the scene as he is about to make his Tour de France debut. However, he has 2 strong years in the Vuelta A Espana including 2 stage wins and a 8 place last year. Specialising as a climber, he will be mostly contending for the Young Riders Classification but might be able to spring a surprise or two in the mountains. Pinot and Quintana should watch out as he could even try to win more than one young rider classification down the line. After all, he is only 23 years old.

Joaquim Rodriguez (ESP)

At 36, Rodriguez is one of the older riders in the lot. However, he is a strong climber and specialist at classic stages. He has finished consistently in the top 10 of all the 3 grand tours over the years. He has won the Mountains and Points Classification at the Vuelta A Espana and Giro D’italia respectively. Some strong finishes in the tour of Basque country, he will be relishing a move in the Mountains where he might want to make the most of the category 1 climbs, provided he keeps his pace with the leaders in the flats.

Richie Porte (AUS)

While he is unlikely to be a favorite for the Tour, he will come into the forefront if Chris Froome has to pull out. The 30-year-old Australian rider is a powerful mountain climber. However, he cracked under pressure last year when Froome crashed out early. But this time, he will be more experienced in that situation. He even had a strong finish in the Tour Down Under.