updated 2:45 p.m. ET June 29, 2007

PARIS - A look at some of the main contenders for the 2007 Tour de France title:

ALEXANDRE VINOKOUROV: 3rd in 2003; 5th in 2005. Didn’t race in 2006 Tour after five teammates were implicated in a doping scandal. The 33-year-old Kazak has won three Tour stages, and the 2006 Tour of Spain. Strong on mountain climbs, and has worked to improve his time trials.

LEVI LEIPHEIMER: 6th in 2005; 8th in 2002; 9th in 2004. The U.S. rider’s Discovery Channel, casting around for a new champion since seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong retired in 2005, hopes that Leipheimer will at least finish in the top three. “I am 100 percent ready,” said the 33-year-old.

ANDREAS KLOEDEN: Runner-up to Armstrong in 2004 and third last year. The tall, skinny German was a close associate of Jan Ullrich, who has since retired under a doping cloud. Kloeden now rides for the Astana team of Vinokourov. He is a strong climber and very fast. Won the Tirreno-Adriatico race in Italy in March.

OSCAR PEREIRO: Runner-up to Floyd Landis last year and could still be declared the 2006 Tour champion if Landis loses his appeal after testing positive for synthetic testosterone. The Spanish rider’s mountain climbing strength is offset by a weakness in time trials. Pereiro placed 10th in 2004 and 2005, winning a tough climb that year in the Pyrenees.

Tour de France July 5-27 Results, standings   |   Stage descriptions Both American teams vow to keep it clean Dopers on Wheels: The Tour's sorry history Interactive: Americans who have won Tour Interactive: Greatest cyclists in Tour history Interactive: Memorable moments in Tour history Tour de France champions throughout history

CADEL EVANS: Abrasive, talented, fearless, Evans placed eighth in his first Tour two years ago and fifth in 2006. The 29-year-old Australian rider is a danger because of his strong climbing ability and stamina. Second at the Dauphine Libere race earlier this month, France’s second-biggest stage race after the Tour.

CHRISTOPHE MOREAU: Eleven years after finishing 75th in his Tour debut, the 36-year-old French rider is blossoming late in his career. By winning the Dauphine Libere earlier this month, Moreau showed that his experience and climbing ability could still trouble more talented riders. Best Tour finish was fourth in 2000.

ALEJANDRO VALVERDE: Long tipped as one of Spain’s brightest cycling prospects, the 27-year-old Valverde made his mark at the 2005 Tour when he beat Lance Armstrong in a tense mountain finish on the 10th stage from Grenoble to Courchevel. Even Armstrong was impressed. Valverde finished second at last year’s Spanish Vuelta.

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