Alberto Contador: Chris Froome favourite for Tour de France

Contador finished fourth in 2013, as Froome kept the yellow jersey in British hands by following up on Bradley Wiggins' success 12 months earlier.

The Spanish Tinkoff-Saxo rider, who is one of just five riders to have won all three Grand Tour events, is likely to be among the favourites to win this year's event.

But, ahead of the Grand Depart in Leeds on Saturday, Contador earmarked Team Sky's defending champion as the frontrunner.

"I think Froome is the one to beat this year; he has been the one to beat the last two years," he said.

"But I'm in a better shape than last year. I don't know if it will be enough to beat him, but I will try."

The 31-year-old also feels that stage five from Ypres to Arenberg Porte du Hainaut will be key in determining the outcome of the race.

"This year's first week is not so decisive as in other years. We have two very important stages; the second [York to Sheffield] and the fifth on the cobble stones," he added. "But I think the mountains will be most important.

"It [stage five] is survival for everyone. You have to be very confident. It's a stage where you can't win the Tour, but you can lose it."