IT IS OFTEN said that the Tour de France is the one race that brings together the best of the best, all at the peak of their fitness and with no other objectives in mind, in the battle for yellow.

But this year there are big questions to ask of all the primary contenders.

Two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard, two-time winner Tadej Pogacar, Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel dominate the discussion, but there is reason to doubt each of them — perhaps opening the door for challenges from elsewhere.