Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome believes we may see a closer contest for the yellow jersey, as he offered his initial take on the 2027 route that was unveiled in Paris on Thursday.

The route features the heaviest dose of time trialling since 2012, when Froome was the runner-up behind his teammate and compatriot Bradley Wiggins, a podium that would preface four Tour titles in the space of five years.