Ahead of his Tour de France preparations at the Critérium du Dauphiné, Chris Froome (Team Sky) has said Nairo Quintana (Movistar) isn’t one of his biggest rivals for the yellow jersey.

In an interview with Reuters, the defending Tour de France champ said that he didn’t think that riders who took on the Giro d’Italia would be as much of a threat come the Tour

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“I think it’s going to be tough for Nairo to do the Giro and the Tour” Froome said. “My biggest threats come from guys who did not do the Giro – Richie Porte, Alberto Contador and Romain Bardet.”

Richie Porte and Chris Froome on stage 12 of the 2016 Tour de France (Credit: Watson)

While at his high altitude training camp in Tenerife, Froome admitted he hadn’t caught much of the Giro as “there was no TV,” but realised that Quintana may not have played his full hand.

“He may be doing better in the Tour because he is a rider who is better in the second rather than the first Grand Tour” he said.

When talking about former team-mate, Richie Porte, Froome wasn’t short on praise for the BMC rider, who he’ll face next week at the Dauphiné.

“Richie has been amazing this season, winning the Tour Down Under and recently the Tour de Romandie. I think this year’s Tour suits Richie really well,” Froome explained.

The pair have a well publicised friendship after their time together at Sky and that doesn’t seem to have diminished.

“He’s definitely got a chance to be up there for the win. This season he’s been showing what he’s capable of. I always believe in Richie,” Froome added.

The three-time Tour winner also stated that he wants to take on the Vuelta a España. “After the Tour, if everything goes well I’d love to do the Vuelta.

“I think it has been a build up similar to what I had last year. I think it worked well and I was able to do the Tour and the Vuelta” he continued. However, focussing on the Tour another Vuelta attempt was “not confirmed.”