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LONDON, Jul 5 (CP) – In our second installment of our three part series, Cyclingpost.com gives the lowdown on those who have ambitions of winning the coveted Yellow Jersey.

This year is shaping up as one very open race. On paper at least, it appears as if teams may struggle to control the peloton in crucial stages or contain those dangerous attacks. This was evident last year, the first tour of the post Armstrong era, where there was no Discovery like train at the front of the peloton controlling proceedings each day.

Heading into the Tour as slight favorite for the Yellow Jersey is Alexandre Vinokourov. The 33-year-old Kazakh will be the only reigning Grand Tour winner to start in London. But winning the 2006 Vuelta won't necessarily translate into automatic Tour success – history has taught us that winning either the Giro or the Vuelta is a different kettle of fish to winning Le Grand Boucle.

'Vino' has publicly stated that time is running out for him and that it will "be this year or never". The Astana rider does possess the game required to win. He climbs well, is a strong time trial rider and has improved with age, and has the most important attribute for success – aggression. A potential weakness in the Vinokourov armor is his ability in the very high mountain passes. As recently as June's Dauphine Liberie, the 2003 Tour podium placer struggled in the mountains and his rivals will be looking to again exploit this, especially when they tackle the Pyrenees.

A lot of interest in this year's race will be how Vinokourov’s team gels as a unit. Astana will field a very strong team for the tour, with the prime focus of winning yellow, however it is this strength by numbers philosophy that could well work against Vinokourov.

Astana also has another rider in their ranks who is capable of claiming the overall title. Andreas Klöden has twice finished on the podium in Paris – the only rider in the peloton to have done so.

Klöden is a bit of an enigma; despite showing inconsistent form each spring, he becomes a different rider in July. Though not as aggressive as his teammate, the German still has what it takes to be a threat. The big question will be how Klöden and Vinokourov work together.

Klöden's role in the team will initially be to support Vino, but if the German feels he is stronger than his team captain, will he be willing to play the role of super-domestique? Rewind back to the 2005 Tour when the cycling world witnessed the farcical situation of Klöden and Jan Ullrich chasing down Vinokourov's attacks when they all rode together at T-Mobile.

Yes for Astana it could well end up being a case of too many chiefs, and a lot of race followers will be watching with abated breath for the fist sign of team implosion.

The surprise packet at this year's race may well be the unproven Alejandro Valverde. The 27-year-old will be starting his third tour, but has yet to make it to Paris in either of his first two attempts due to injury.

Though the Caisse d'Epargne rider has finished on the podium twice in the Vuelta a España, team manager Eusebio Unzue admits the Spaniard will be an unknown quantity at the Tour.

Valverde does have the necessary traits to become a Grand Tour champion. He is a strong climber, though a question hangs over his ability in the third week of the race. His time trialing has also improved in recent seasons but he is still likely to lose time to the specialists. And his team of course has had some experience in defending the Yellow Jersey during last year's race with Oscar Pereiro.

Which brings us to last year's runner-up (or should that be defending champion?). Much has been written during the last 12 months about Pereiro – his collapse in the Pyrenees, the 30 minute 'gift' on stage thirteen from Phonak that gave him the Yellow and eventually second place in Paris.

However, in both 2004 and 2005 the Spanish rider finished tenth and did so virtually anonymously in the race. But whether Pereiro is good enough to fight it out for the podium, or if he will even be given the chance to do so, remains to be seen. If Valverde shows good form early in the tour, Oscar's role may end up being that of super-domestique. He has already stated that he would be comfortable playing that role if necessary, so at least Caisse d'Epargne shouldn't be faced with the same problem that Astana may run into.

Following on from his fine win in the Dauphiné Libéré, Vladimir Karpets is in career best form. The former White Jersey winner will provide great support to both Valverde and Pereiro. And don't be surprised if the Russian earns him a high overall place himself.

Another rider whose progress will be interesting to watch during the three week race will be Team CSC's Carlos Sastre. The diminutive climber was arguably the strongest rider in the Alps and Pyrenees last year. With three consecutive tough days in the Pyrenees awaiting riders in the last week of racing, expect the Spaniard to be aiming to make his presence felt then.

Sastre will need to execute his attacks on the mountains to perfection, ensuring he can gain maximum time gaps on his opponents. Like Valverde, he will need to keep his loses in the individual time trials to as little as possible if he wants to make the podium in Paris. A poor showing in the stage 19 time trial last year ended up costing the 32-year-old that podium place.

Of course, Bjarne Riis never puts all his eggs in the one basket and if Sastre falters, Team CSC has another option in the exciting Fränk Schleck. The Luxembourger already has a Tour stage win to his credit, on none other than Alpe d'Huez.

No doubt he will be motivated by his younger brother Andy's exploits at this year's Giro which saw him collect second place. Schleck has continued to mature as a rider and though the overall win may be out of reach – at least for now – a high overall placing is not out of the question.

A trio of riders looking for a strong showing at the Tour this year will be Levi Leipheimer, Cadel Evans and Denis Menchov. Though it is unlikely that any of the three will be riding onto the Champs-Élysées in yellow, a place on the final podium may not be out of their reach.

For Leipheimer, this will be his second tilt at the Tour with Discovery Channel. After a disappointing race in 2006, the American will be looking to make amends. The 33-year-old will find the 2007 route a lot more favorable. His race was over last year before he even reached the mountains after faltering in the individual time trial.

But with the Alpine stages coming before the first race against the clock this year, Levi will be looking as these stages for a boost in confidence. But to improve on his 13th placing in 2006, Leipheimer will need to attack at every opportunity.

Cadel Evans is in a similar predicament as Leipheimer. The Australian has finished 8th and 5th in his two attempts, but many feel he has ridden too conservatively at crucial times of both races. Evans has demonstrated that he can hang on in the mountains, but has he got what it takes to set the pace in the high passes? Though the former mountain biker has shown some promise in time trials, the longer tests in Grand Tours don't suit him.

After stage eleven to Pla de Beret last year, many felt that Rabobank's Denis Menchov was the man to beat. However one bad day in the Alps cost the big hearted Russian any chance of victory. Despite tiring in the third week, Menchov still managed a credible 6th.

Like Evans, Menchov has shown mixed form leading into July, but if his cards fall into place, a podium position isn't out of the question.

Michael Rogers' progress will also be worth monitoring throughout the three weeks. Last year the Australian buried himself for de-facto captain Andreas Klöden. This year, he will assume the mantle as leader of a team that has changed so much since the then. How he handles the extra burden of captaincy will be fascinating to watch.

Yes, there is much too look forward to throughout this wonderful race as we await to see who will be crowned the winner of the 94th Tour de France.

In Friday's final part to our comprehensive preview of the Tour de France, Cyclingpost.com will take a look at those who are likely to be prominent in the race as they chase the Green, King of the Mountains and Young Rider jerseys.

© Michael Holden