Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (in picture) of the Caisse d'Epargne team, who will be backed up by 2006 champion Oscar Pereiro, will be among the top contenders although he has been an under-achiever on the Tour.
Sixth overall last year, he won the warm-up event for the Tour, the Dauphine-Libere, last month.
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The Italian challenge will be led by Damiano Cunego, who has been impressive this season and leads the UCI-ProTour standings after winning the Amstel Gold Race.
The Lampre rider even decided to skip the Giro d'Italia this year to be fully focus on the Tour.
Cunego's compatriot Ricardo Ricc is expected to shake up the peloton in the mountain stages, with one of them ending in his country, in the Alpine resort of Cuneo.
The Giro runner-up should be one of the top contenders for the climbers' polka-dot jersey along with holder Juan Mauricio Soler of Colombia.
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