Froome expects strong Tour de France competition from Spain

CORSICA, France, June 28 (UPI) -- British cyclist Chris Froome, the favorite to win the 100th Tour de France, said Spanish duo Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez will be tough to beat.

Froome, 28, whom the BBC projected as a favorite to become the second Briton to win the race that begins Saturday, said he sees Valverde, 33, and Rodriguez, 34, as potential winners of the 2,115-mile tour, the BBC reported Friday.

The BBC said Alberto Contador, 30, a three-time winner whose third victory was revoked due to a doping scandal, is likely to be Froome's main competition in the overall race. Cadel Evans, 36, who became the first Australian to win the race in 2011, is also expected to make a strong showing, the BBC said.