No Lance, big chance

The absence of a certain Texan for the first time in eight years should create a wide-open Tour de France. Here are six favourites to ride down the Champs-Élysées in the yellow jersey.

Ivan Basso, 28, CSC. So what if he rode (and won) the taxing Giro d’Italia in May? Basso, the most talented rider, is blessed with (relative) youth and the best team. He should gain enough time in the mountains to offset the seconds he will lose to Jan Ullrich in the time trials. ODDS: 2 to 1.