With the Spring Classics now out of the way, the Grand Tours come into focus and WorldTour stage racing resumes on Tuesday in Switzerland at the Tour de Romandie. Once the favoured last stop before the Giro d'Italia, this year's start list boasts just a few bona fide contenders for the maglia rosa but, in a curious blend, pits them against a few of the favourites for July's Tour de France. Here are Cyclingnews' five riders to keep an eye on over the coming week.
Chris Froome (Team Sky)
On paper, Froome is the clear favourite for the overall win. He has won the race twice, has recently spent another spell at altitude, and the two time trials suit his skillset.
The rest of the route, however, could throw up a number of curve balls, with the race organisers plumbing for a parcours that invites attacking racing. Froome's capitulation in Cataluyna, where he and his Sky teammates missed the decisive move and almost missed the time cut, will still rankle, and Romandie provides the chance to put several simmering questions of Sky's tactics to bed. In Froome's favour is the fact that the likes of Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde are not present and BMC Racing, despite their squad depth, are not the sort of team to rip up the rule book and go for an all-out assault.
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Pete Kennaugh, Ian Boswell and David Lopez offer support for the mountains but this is not Team Sky's A-team. Given that, and the fact that Froome has not won yet this season, he remains a man to watch.
Simon Yates (Orica-Scott)
A week ago, Simon Yates was preparing for the Giro d'Italia and a double assault on the race with his brother. One knee injury – courtesy of Esteban Chaves – and a press release later and Yates has seen his Grand Tour path significantly altered, with the Giro swapped out for the Tour de France.
Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing)
Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin)
Bob Jungels (Quick-Step Floors)
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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