Tour De France 2012: Breaking Down the Race's Top Contenders

The 2012 Tour De France is a wide-open race and several riders could come away with the yellow jersey.

The race starts on June 30 and will push the athletes to their breaking points, as they wind through the Alps on their way to Paris. 

Since Lance Armstrong ended his dominant run of seven consecutive titles, five riders have won the race in the last six years, with Alberto Contador as the only cyclist to win twice. 

Contador will not be in the race because of a doping ban, so the following three athletes will all be vying for the overall title.

Cadel Evans, Australia 

Chance to win: 3-1

Evans is the defending champion and certainly has the potential to ride along the Champs-Élysées wearing the yellow jersey once again. 

The 35-year-old edged out Andy Schleck by one minute and 34 seconds to become the first Australian to win the race.

In 2010, Evans held on to the to the yellow jersey as late as the ninth stage, but was unable to maintain his pace due to an elbow injury and failed to pull out a victory.

Now, Evans has championship experience, and he will be riding with maximum confidence throughout the race.

Bradley Wiggins, Great Britain

Chance to win: 5-1

This decade could see the former British Empire’s takeover of cycling. After Evans became the first Aussie to win the race, Wiggins looks poised to become the first Brit to accomplish the feat.

Wiggins has had a spectacular 2012 season so far. He became the first rider to ever win the Paris-Nice, the Tour of Romandie and the Criterium du Dauphine in a single year, as noted by SI.com.

The 32-year-old is peaking at the perfect time to make history for his country.

When the final stages are through, both Wiggins and Evans will be right there with the leaders.

Vincenzo Nibali, Italy 

Chance to win: 8-1

Nibali is a talented 27-year-old who is the third favorite in this year’s race. 

He has been impressive this year, and SI.com’s Austin Murphy described him as “scary strong in the spring classics.” 

Even though Evans and Wiggins are considered by most to be a cut above Nibali, the Italian will not suffer from lack of confidence. He said, per Reuters’ Gilles Le Roc’h, “Everybody knows how I ride, I'm an aggressive rider and I have no intention to change."

Nibali has talent and swagger, and he will need both to beat out the competition at this grueling test of endurance.